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Pistol  :      "  Quiet    the  cudgel  5   thou  dost  see  I  eat" 

King  Henky  V  Act  V  Scene 


Copyright,    1901 

By 

THE    UNIVERSITY    SOCIETY 


COU.EG 
LIBRAR 

/\  2 

THE   LIFE   OF   KING   HENRY  V.    /^^    ^ 
Preface. 

Editions.  The  earliest  edition  of  King  Henry  the  Fifth 
is  a  quarto  published  in  1600,  with  the  following  title  : — 

"  The  I  Chronicle  |  History  of  Henry  the  Fifth  |  with 
his  battell  fought  at  Agin  Conrt  in  |  France.  Together 
with  Auiiticnt  Pistoll.  \  As  it  hath  bene  sundry  times 
played  by  the  Right  honorable  \  the  Lord  Chanibcrlaine 
his  seruants.  \  London  |  Printed  by  Thomas  Creede,  for 
Tho.  Milling  |  ton,  and  lohn  Busby.  And  are  to  be  |  sold 
at  his  house  in  Carter  Lane,  next  j  the  Powle  head. 
1600.  I  " 

This  quarto  was  reprinted  in  1602  and  1608. 

In  the  First  Folio  the  title  of  the  play  is  The  Life  of 
Henry  the  Fift^ 

The  text  of  the  quarto  edition  differs  in  many  impor- 
tant respects  from  that  of  the  folio;  (i.)  it  omits  all  the 
prologues  and  the  epilogue;  (ii.)  some  five  hundred 
lines  besides  are  in  no  wise  represented  therein  ;  (iii.)  the 
speeches  of  certain  characters  are  transferred  to  other 
characters,  so  that  the  actors  are  fewer ;  f  confusion  in 
time-indications;  (iv.)  corruptions,  obscurities,  and 
minor  discrepancies  abound. J     The  Quarto  is  obviously 

*  Edited  by  W.  G.  Stone,  New  Shak.  Soc,  1880. 

t  Ely,  Westmoreland.  Bedford,  Britany,  Rambtires,  Erpingham, 
Grandpre,  Macmorris,  Jamy,  Messenger,  II.  iv.,  and  IV.  ii,,  and 
the  French  Queen,  have  no  speeches  assigned  to  them  in  the 
Quarto. 

%Cp.  Henry  V..  Parallel  Texts,  ed.  Nicholson,  li'ith  Introduc- 
tion, by  P.  A.  Daniel ;  New  Shak.  Soc, 


Preface  THE  LIFE  OF 

derived  from  an  edition  abridged  for  acting  purposes, 
evidently  an  imperfect  and  unauthorized  version  made  up 
from  shorthand  notes  taken  at  the  theatre,  and  afterwards 
amplified.  The  original  of  this  abridged  edition  was 
in  all  probability  the  Folio  text,  more  or  less,  as  we  know 
it.  This  view  of  the  question  is  now  generally  accepted, 
and  few  scholars  are  inclined  to  maintain  that  '  the  orig- 
inal of  the  Quarto  was  an  earlier  one  without  choruses, 
and  following  the  Chronicle  historians  much  more 
closely.'* 

The  Date  of  Composition.  The  reference  to  Essex  in 
the  Prologue  to  Act  V.  {vide  Note)  shews  that  Henry 
the  Fifth  must  have  been  acted  between  March  2"/  and 
September  28,  1599;!  the  play  is  not  mentioned  by  Meres 
in  his  Palladis  Tamia,  1598,  though  Hewy  IV.  is  included 
in  his  list;  the  Epilogue  to  2  Henry  /F.  makes  promise 
of  Henry  V.,  but  '  our  humble  author  '  has  modified  his 
original  conception  X   {vide  Preface  to  i,  2  Henry  IV., 

*  J'ide  Fleay.  '  Life  and  IVurk  of  Shakespeare  ' ;  p.  206.  Besides 
thus  differentiating  the  two  editions,  Mr.  Fleay  takes  the  scene 
with  the  Scotch  and  Irish  captains  (III.  ii.  1.  69  to  the  end  of  the 
Scene)  to  be  an  insertion  for  the  Court  performance,  Christmas 
1605,  to  please  King  James,  who  had  been  annoyed  that  year  by 
depreciation  of  the  Scots  on  the  stage. 

This  Scene  is  certainly  a  contrast  to  the  anti-Scottish  feeling  in 
Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  The  late  Richard  Simpson  made  some  interesting, 
though  doubtful,  observations  on  the  political  teaching  of  Henry 
V.  in  a  paper  dealing  with  The  politics  of  Shakespeare's  Historical 
Plays  (New  Shak.  Soc,  1874). 

t  It  is  fair  to  assume  that  the  choruses  were  written  for  the 
first  performances,  though  Pope,  Warburton,  and  others  held  that 
these  were  inserted  at  a  later  period;  they  must,  however,  have 
formed  an  integral  portion  of  Shakespeare's  original  scheme; 
considerations  of  time  may  have  necessitated  their  omission  in  the 
abridged  acting  edition. 

if'Our  humble  author  will  continue  the  story,  ivith  Sir  lohn 
in  it,  and  make  you  merry  with  fair  Katharine  of  France ;  where, 
for  anything  I  know,  Falstaff  shall  die  of  a  sweat,"  etc. 


KING  HENRY  V.  Preface 

and  Note  on  Epilogue)  :  this  change  of  plan  is  intimately 
connected  with  the  composition  of  The  Merry  Wives  of 
Windsor  {vide  Preface)  ;  the  play  is  found  in  the  Sta- 
tioners' Register  under  August  4th,  1600  (together  with 
As  You  Like  It,  Much  Ado  About  Nothing,  and  Ben  Jon- 
son's  Every  Man  in  His  Humour),  marked,  "to  be 
staied,"  though  ten  days  afterwards  it  is  again  entered 
among  the  copies  assigned  to  Thomas  Pavyer ;  in  the 
same  year  we  have  the  publication  of  the  Quarto  edition ; 
finally,  the  Globe  Theatre,  built  by  Burbage  in  1599,  is 
somewhat  emphatically  referred  to  in  the  Prologue ;  all 
these  considerations  seem  to  fix  with  certainty  the  year 
1599  as  the  date  of  this  play. 

The  Sources.  The  main  authority  for  the  history  of 
Henry  J\  was  the  second  edition  of  Holinshed's  Chron- 
icles, published  in  1587,  though  he  departs  occasionally 
from  his  original  for  the  sake  of  dramatic  effect.  For 
two  or  three  minor  points  Shakespeare  was  indebted  to 
the  old  play  of  The  Famous  Victories  of  Henry  the  Fifth'^ 
(e.g.  a  few  touches  in  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. ;  the  episode  of  Pistol 
and  the  French  soldier;   the  wooing  scene,  etc.).f 

Duration  of  Action.  The  time  of  Henry  J\  covers 
ten  days,  with  intervals,  embracing  altogether  a  period 
of  about  six  years,  from  the  opening  of  the  Parliament  at 
Leicester,  April  30,  1414,  to  Henry's  betrothal  to  Kath- 
arine, May  20,  1420 : — 

1st  Chorus.     Prologue,  '  sets  forth  the  claims  of  the 
dramatist  on  the  imagination  of  the  audience.' 

*  Vide  Preface  to  i,  2,  Henry  IV.  The  Famous  Victories  was 
licensed  in  1594;  in  1592  Nash,  in  Pierce  Pennilesse,  alludes  to  this 
or  some  other  play  on  the  same  subject: — "What  a  glorious 
thing  it  is  to  have  Henry  the  Fifth  represented  on  the  stage,  lead- 
ing the  French  King  prisoner,"  etc. 

t  Cp.  W.  G.  Stone's  Introduction  to  Henry  the  Fifth  (Nezv 
Shak.  Soc.)  ;  an  exhaustive  study  of  the  historical  aspect  of  the 
play ;  also  Courtenay's  Historical  Plays  of  Shakespeare ;  Warner's 
English  History  in  Shakespeare. 


Preface  THE  LIFE  OF 

Day  I.  Act  I.  Sc.  i.  and  ii.  Ante-chamber  in  the 
King's  palace  ;  the  presence-chamber. 
2nd  Chorus;  'tells  of  the  preparations  for  war;  of 
the  discovery  of  the  plot  against  the  king,  who 
is  set  from  London,  and  that  the  scene  is  to  be 
transported  to  London.'  Interval. 
Day  2.  Act  II.  Sc.  i.  London  ( PEastcheap).  Inter- 
val 

Dav  3.     Act  II.  Sc.  ii.     Southampton ;    Sc.  iii.  London 
(Falstaff  is  dead).    Interval. 

Day  4.     Act  II.  Sc.  iv.    France,  the  King's  Palace. 
3rc?   Chorus ;   *  tells   of   the   King's   departure   from 
Hampton ;    his  arrival  at  Harfleur,  and  of  the 
return  of  his  Ambassador  with  proposals.'     In- 
terval. 

Day  5.     Act  III.  Sc.  i.-iii.     Before  Harfleur.     Interval. 
[Act.  III.  Sc.  iv.  Interval,  following  Day  4.] 

Day  6.     Act  III.  Sc.  v.    Rouen.    Interval. 

Day  7.     Act  III.  Sc.  vi. ;   [Interval]   first  part  of  Sc. 
vii. ;  Blangy. 

DayS,.     Act  III.   Sc.  vii.      (French  camp  near  Agin- 
court). 
4th  Chorus  (Interval).    Act  IV.  Sc.  i.-viii.  (zcith  In- 
tervals) ;   English  camp. 
5//1   Chorus    '  tells  of  Henry's  journey  to  England 
and  of  his  reception  by  his  people ;    then,  with 
excuses  for  passing  over  time  and  history,  brings 
his  audience  straight  back  again  to  France.    The 
historic  period  thus  passed  over  dates  from  Oc- 
tober,  141 5,  to  Henry's  betrothal  to  Katharine, 
May,  1420.'     Interval. 

Day  9.     Act  V.  Sc.  ii.  (perhaps,  better,  the  last  scene 
should   reckon    as   the   tenth   day,   vide   W.    G. 
Stone,  p.  ciii.). 
6th  Chorus.    Epilogue.    {C p. 'Dsm^Vs  Time  Analysis; 
Trans.  Shak.  Soc.,  1^77-79.) 


KING  HENRY  V.  Preface 

In  no  other  play  has  Shakespeare  attempted  so  bold  an 
experiment  in  the  dramatization  of  war ;  nowhere  else  has 
he  made  so  emphatic  an  apology  for  disregarding  the 
unities  of  time  and  place,  nor  put  forth  so  clear  a  vindica- 
tion of  the  rights  of  the  imagination  in  the  romantic 
drama;  he  seems,  indeed,  to  point  directly  to  Sidney's 
famous  comment  on  the  scenic  poverty  of  the  stage/-' — 
*'  Two  armies  Hye  in,  represented  zvith  four  szvords  and 
bucklers,  and  then  what  hard  heart  zvill  not  receive  it  for 
a  pitched  Held," — when  his  Chorus  makes  the  mock 
avowal : — 

"  O  for  pity  ! — we  shall  much  disgrace 

With  four  or  five  most  vile  and  ragged  foils, 

Right  ill-disposed  in  brawl  ridiculous, 

The  narrie  of  Agincourt."  f 

The  theme,  as  well  as  its  treatment  and  the  spirit  which 
informs  the  whole,  is  essentially  epic  and  lyrical  rather 
than  dramatic,  and  the  words  addressed  by  Ben  Jonson  to 
the  arch-patriot  among  English  poets,  the  poet  of  the 
Ballad  of  Agincourt,  '  his  friend,  Michael  Drayton,'  % 
might  more  justly  be  applied  to  the  patriot-dramatist  of 
Agincourt : — 

"  Look  how  we  read  the  Spartans  were  inflamed 
With  bold  Tyrt^us'  verse  ;  when  thou  art  named 
so  shall  our  english  youths  urge  on,  and  cry 
An  Agincourt  !  an  Agincourt  !  or  die."     • 

*  Cp.  Apology  for  Poetry  (Arber's  Reprint,  pp.  63,  64). 
t  Prol.  iv.  49-52. 

t  Ben  Jonson's  '  Vision  on  the  Muses  of  his  Friend,  Michael 
Drayton.'  Jonson  seems  to  have  objected  to  Shakespeare's 
method  in  Henry  V.  Cp.  Prologue  to  Every  Man  in  his  Humour 
(added  to  the  play  after  1601)  : — 

"  He  rather  prays,  you  zvill  he  pleased  to  sec 
One  such,  to-day,  as  other  plays  should  be; 
Where  neither  chorus  wafts  you  o'er  the  seas,"  etc. 
Towards  the  end  of  his  career,  in  his  Winter's  Tale,  Shakespeare 
spoke  again,  in  the  person  of  the  Chorus  Time,  in  defence  of  his 
"power  to  overthrow  law  and  in  one  self -horn  hour  to  plant  and 
o'erwhelm  custom  "  {vide  Preface,  p.  x.). 

5 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Critical  Comments. 
I. 

Argument. 

I.  Soon  after  his  coronation  Henry  V.  resolves  to  se- 
cure his  title  to  the  crown  and  augment  his  popularity 
with  the  masses  by  the  splendours  of  foreign  conquest. 
Accordingly  he  lays  claim  to  the  throne  of  France 
through  the  medium  of  the  ancient  Salic  law,  and  de- 
clares war  against  that  country.  In  answer  to  his  first 
demands  for  certain  French  dukedoms,  the  Dauphin 
sends  back  to  him  in  mockery  a  bag  of  tennis-balls — the 
French  heir-apparent  believing  that  he  has  still  to  deal 
with  a  madcap  prince. 

II.  At  this  time,  however,  the  young  monarch's  ac- 
cession of  virtues  and  regal  dignities  is  a  source  of  mar- 
vel and  admiration;  for  he  has  made  good  his  promise, 
given  upon  assuming  the  crown,  to  forsake  the  wild 
companions  of  his  youth.  But  Sir  John  Falstaff  cannot 
fathom  the  sudden  change,  and  dies  of  a  broken  heart. 

The  King  imbues  all  England  with  his  military  enthu- 
siasm. A  large  army  is  speedily  levied  and  makes  ready 
to  embark  at  Southampton.  The  French,  growing  ap- 
prehensive at  this  warHke  display,  seek  to  check  the  in- 
vasion by  treacherous  means,  and  bribe  three  English 
lords  to  murder  the  King  at  the  time  of  his  embarkation. 
The  plot  is  discovered  and  the  King  sentences  the  trai- 
tors to  death. 

III.  King  Henry  storms  the  French  city  of  Harfleur, 
which,  lacking  support,  is  forced  to  capitulate.  But  sick- 
ness and  privation  now  make  such  inroads  upon  his 
army  that  he  finds  himself  in  danger  of  annihilation  at 

6 


KING  HENRY  V.  Comments 

the  hands  of  a  French  force  led  by  the  Dauphin,  outnum- 
bering his  own  five  to  one.  Nevertheless  he  does  not 
avoid  battle  but  pitches  camp  near  the  French  at  Agin- 
court. 

IV.  The  French  are  so  confident  of  victory  that  they 
cast  dice  for  the  disposal  of  the  contemplated  prisoners. 
On  the  English  side  all  is  watchfulness  and  preparation. 
The  King  in  person  goes  disguised  through  his  camp  to 
learn  the  temper  of  his  men.  At,  daybreak  the  armies 
meet  in  the  shock  of  battle.  The  Dauphin's  forces  suf- 
fer a  disgraceful  and  overwhelming  defeat  through  lack 
of  generalship. 

V.  The  French  are  forced  to  sue  for  peace.  King 
Henry's  terms  include,  among  other  things,  the  recog- 
nition of  himself  as  heir  to  the  throne  of  France,  and  the 
bestowal  upon  him  of  the  hand  of  the  Princess  Katha- 
rine. All  the  terms  are  agreed  to.  The  English  con- 
querors are  received  at  the  court  of  France  amid  prot- 
estations of  amity,  while  the  English  king  and  the  French 
princess  arrive  at  a  mutual  understanding  of  hearts  de- 
spite their  ignorance  of  tongues. 

McSpadden  :  Shakespearian  Synopses. 

II. 

France  and  England. 

The  principal  historical  feature  [of  Henry  V.],  the  de- 
scription of  the  spirit  of  the  age  with  its  relations  to  the 
past,  and  the  character  of  the  two  belligerent  nations  is 
brought  out  in  a  truly  dramatic  style,  by  giving  the  ut- 
most animation  to  the  action.  Henry  IV.,  on  his  death- 
bed, had  counselled  his  son  to  engage 

"  Giddy  minds 
With  foreign  quarrels." 

And,  in  fact,  ''  giddiness  "  and  vacillation  were  the  lead- 
ing features  in  the  character  of  the  age;    the  reason  of 

7 


Comments  THE  LIFE  OF 

this  lay  not  only  in  the  unjust  usurpation  of  Henry  IV., 
which,  owing  to  the  close  connection  existing  between 
the  state  and  its  various  members,  exercised  its  influence 
on  the  barons  and  people,  but  also  in  the  progressive  de- 
velopment of  the  state  and  of  the  nation  itself.  The  cor- 
porative estates  of  the  kingdom,  the  clergy,  knights  and 
burghers,  incited  by  an  esprit  de  corps  and  by  their  well- 
ordered  organisation,  felt  their  power  and  endeavoured 
to  assert  it,  both  against  the  royal  power  and  against  one 
another.  Their  disputes  among  one  another  would  have 
been  of  more  frequent  occurrence  had  it  not  been  for  the 
fact  that,  in  direct  contrast  to  the  French  nobility,  the 
English  barons  generally  sided  with  the  commoners,  so 
as  mutually  to  protect  their  rights  against  the  preten- 
sions of  the  crown.  Eoch  of  these  several  parties  en- 
deavoured to  promote  their  own  interests  and  to  act  with 
the  greatest  possible  amount  of  freedom;  their  active 
strength  naturally  strove  to  find  a  vigorous  sphere  of 
action  and  would  have  consumed  itself,  and  thus  inter- 
nally destroyed  the  organism  of  the  state,  had  it  not  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  vent  in  an  outward  direction.  In 
France,  on  the  other  hand,  the  vanity,  the  excessive  arro- 
gance of  the  court,  the  nobility  and  the  people  desired 
war  in  order  to  realise  their  proud  dream  of  internal  and 
external  superiority;  the  historical  course  of  the  nation's 
culture  required  that  it  should  be  thoroughly  humbled 
by  misery  and  wretchedness,  otherwise  it  would  have  de- 
cayed prematurely  through  extravagance  and  efifeminate 
luxury.  Moreover  in  France  also,  the  organism  of  the 
state  was  broken  up  into  so  many  separate  and  inde- 
pendent corporations  that  it  required  a  great  and  general 
interest,  a  great  national  disaster  to  preserve  their  con- 
sciousness of  mutual  dependence  and  unity. 

All  this  Shakspeare  has  intimated  in  a  few  but  vigor- 
ous features.  But  still  more  clearly  are  the  characters  of 
the  two  nations  brought  forward  as  the  historical  mo- 
tive. The  sober,  practical  patriotism  of  the  English,  in 
the  full  consciousness  of  their  own  strength,  could  not 

8 


KING  HENRY  V.  Comments 

tolerate  the  arrogance,  the  conceit  and  the  frivolity  of 
the  French,  of  which  the  Dauphin's  contumelious  em- 
bassy to  Henry  gives  so  distinct  a  reflex.  The  two  na- 
tions stood  opposed  to  one  another  like  a  couple  of  men 
who,  in  spite  of  the  great  difference  in  their  natures,  both 
maintain  that  they  are  in  the  right  and  aim  at  the  same 
goal;  such  natures  must  necessarily  come  into  conflict. 
Ulrici  :  Shakspeare's  Dramatic  Art, 

III. 

The  King. 

From  first  to  last  the  one  overshadowing  character  is 
the  King.  His  irregular,  undignified  conduct  when 
Prince  of  Wales  would  hardly  have  prepared  the  people 
to  expect  a  model  king.  The  prince,  however,  felt 
within  himself  the  power  to  rise  above  the  frivolities  of 
liis  early  life  when  higher  duties  called  him;  and  the  play 
abundantly  shows  how  thoroughly  he  had  redeemed 
himself,  rising  to  such  a  pitch  of  glory  that  in  the  epi- 
logue to  the  play  he  is  ''  the  Star  of  England."  The  full 
portrait  of  him,  drawn  in  an  atmosphere  of  loyalty  and 
patriotism,  is  in  close  agreement  with  that  of  contempo- 
rary writers.  As  a  military  leader  he  exhibited  great 
capacity  and  foresight;  in  Holinshed's  phrase,  "  he  had 
indeed  a  gift  to  encourage  his  people."  As  king,  he  se- 
cured the  loyal  respect  of  his  people,  and  their  admira- 
tion for  his  piety,  justice,  and  simplicity  of  character;  in 
these  respects  he  afforded  a  striking  contrast  to  the 
crooked  ways  of  his  father.  A  living  poet  (Mr.  William 
Watson)  has  said  of  him  : — 

The  roystering  prince,  that  afterward 
Belied  his  madcap  youth  and  proved 
A  greatly-simple  warrior  lord 
Such  as  our  warrior  fathers  loved, 
Lives  he  not  still  ? 

Henry  V.,  as  Shakespeare  has  portrayed  him,  will  live 


Comments  THE  LIFE  OF 

in  the  memory  of  every  reader  of  the  play,  not  merely  as 
an  ideal  English  warrior  king,  but  as  the  noblest  illustra- 
tion bequeathed  to  us  by  any  dramatist  of  that  intense 
patriotic  feeling  of  Englishmen  that  reached  so  high  a 
pitch  in  Elizabeth's  reign,  when  proud  confidence  in  the 
strength  of  English  spirit  and  deep  love  of  their  country 
and  queen  were  fully  as  earnest  and  as  widely  felt  as  in 
our  own  time. 

Ferguson  :  The  Swan  Edition. 


In  his  courtship  and  on  the  day  of  battle  Henry  is  just 
as  plain  a  king  as  if  he  had  "  sold  his  farm  to  buy  his 
crown.''  He  has  shaken  off  his  old  dissolute  compan- 
ions, but  the  remembrances  of  that  simple  intercourse 
are  recalled  to  our  mind  at  every  moment.  The  same 
inclination  to  rove  about  with  the  common  man  in  his 
army,  the  old  mildness  and  familiarity,  and  the  same  love 
for  an  innocent  jest,  exist  in  him  now  as  then,  without 
derogating  in  the  least  from  his  kingly  dignity.  He 
leaves  his  nobles  waiting  in  his  tent  while  he  visits  the 
posts  of  his  soldiers;  the  old  habit  of  night-watching  is 
of  use  to  him  now;  he  sounds  the  disposition  of  indi- 
viduals; he  encourages  them  without  high-sounding 
words ;  he  fortifies  them  without  ostentation ;  he  can 
preach  to  them  and  solve  moral  scruples,  and  can  make 
himself  intelligible  to  them;  he  contrives  a  trick  quite 
of  the  old  kind  in  the  moment  of  most  gloomy  suspense; 
like  a  brother,  he  borrows  the  cloak  of  the  old  Erping- 
ham;  he  familiarly  allows  his  countryman  Fluellen  to 
join  freely  in  his  conversation  with  the  herald;  and  in 
his  short  appeal  before  the  battle  he  declares  all  to  be  his 
brothers  who  on  this  Crispin's  day  shed  their  blood  with 
him. 

This  contrast  between  his  repose  and  calmness  and 
his  martial  excitement,  between  his  plain  hom.ely  nature 
and  the  kingly  heroic  spirit  which  in  the  moment  of  ac- 
tion exercises  dominion  over  him,  is,  however,  not  the 
only  one  in  which  the  Poet  has  exhibited  him.     The 

lO 


KING  HENRY  V.  Comments 

night  before  and  the  day  during  the  battle,  which  form 
the  centre  of  our  play,  is  a  period  so  prominent,  and  one 
in  which  such  manifold  moods,  emotions,  and  passions, 
are  roused  and  crossed,  that  the  best  opportunity  was 
here  afforded  to  the  Poet  for  exhibiting  to  our  view  this 
many-sided  man  in  all  the  richness  and  the  diversity  of 
his  nature.  When  the  mind  is  quickened,  he  himself 
says,  "  the*organs  break  up  their  drowsy  grave,  and 
newly  move  with  casted  slough  and  fresh  legerity  " ;  and 
thus  is  it  with  him  in  this  great  and  decisive  moment. 
We  see  him  in  a  short  time  alternate  between  the  most 
different  emotions  and  positions,  ever  the  same  master 
over  himself,  or  we  may  rather  say,  over  the  opportunity 
and  the  matter  which  lie  for  the  moment  before  him. 
Gervinus  :  Shakespeare  Commentaries, 

IV. 

The  Wrath  of  Henry. 

Shortly  before  the  English  army  sets  sail  for  France, 
the  treason  of  Cambridge,  Scroop,  and  Grey  is  disclosed 
to  the  king.  He  does  not  betray  his  acquaintance  with 
their  designs.  Surrounded  by  traitors,  he  boldly  enters 
his  council-chamber  at  Southampton  (the  wind  is  sitting 
fair,  and  but  one  deed  remains  to  do  before  they  go 
aboard).  On  the  preceding  day  a  man  was  arrested  who 
had  railed  against  the  person  of  the  king.  Henry  gives 
orders  that  he  be  set  at  liberty: — 

"  We  consider 
It  was  excess  of  wine  that  set  him  on ; 
And  on  his  more  advice  we  pardon  him." 

But  Scroop  and  Grey  and  Cambridge  interpose.  It 
would  be  true  mercy,  they  insist,  to  punish  such  an  of- 
fender. And  then,  when  they  have  unawares  brought 
themselves  within  the  range  of  justice,  Henry  unfolds 
their  guilt.  The  wrath  of  Henry  has  in  it  some  of  that 
awfulness  and  terror  suggested  by  the  apocalyptic  ref- 

II 


Comments  THE  LIFE  OF 

erence  to  "  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb."  It  is  the  more  ter- 
rible because  it  transcends  all  egoistic  feeling.  What 
fills  the  king  with  indignation  is  not  so  much  that  his 
life  should  have  ben  conspired  against  by  men  on  whom 
his  bounty  has  been  bestowed  without  measure,  as  that 
they  should  have  revolted  against  the  loyalty  of  man, 
weakened  the  bonds  of  fellowship,  and  lowered  the  high 
tradition  of  humanity: — 

"  O,  how  hast  thou  with  jealousy  infected 
The  sweetness  of  affiance!     Show  men  dutiful? 
Why,  so  didst  thou:  seem  they  grave  and  learned? 
Why,  so  didst  thou:  come  they  of  noble  family? 
Why,  so  didst  thou :  seem  they  religious  ? 
Why,  so  didst  thou :  or  are  they  spare  in  diet, 
Free  from  gross  pa*ssion  or  of  mirth  or  anger, 
Constant  in  spirit,  not  swerving  with  the  blood, 
Garnish'd  and  deck'd  in  modest  complement, 
Not  working  with  the  eye  without  the  ear, 
And  but  in  purged  judgement  trusting  neither? 
Such  and  so  finely  bolted  didst  thou  seem: 
And  thus  thy  fall  hath  left  a  kind  of  blot, 
To  mark  the  full-fraught  man  and  best  indued 
With  some  suspicion.     I  will  weep  for  thee; 
For  this  revolt  of  thine,  methinks,  is  like 
Another  fall  of  man." 

No  wonder  that  the  terrible  moral  insistence  of  these 
words  can  subdue  consciences  made  of  penetrable  stuff ; 
no  wonder  that  such  an  awful  discovery  of  high  realities 
of  life  should  call  forth  the  loyalty  that  lurked  within  a 
traitor's  heart.  But,  though  tears  escape  Henry,  he  can- 
not relent : — 

"  Touclwng  our  person  seek  we  no  revenge ; 
But  we  our  kingdom's  safety  must  so  tender. 
Whose  ruin  you  have  sought,  that  to  her  laws 
We  do  deliver  you.     Get  you  therefore  hence, 
Poor  miserable  wretches,  to  your  death : 
The  taste  whereof,  God  of  his  mercy  give 
You  patience  to  endure,  and  true  repentance 
Of  all  your  dear  offences  !  " 

12 


KING  HENRY  V.  Comments 

And,  having  vindicated  the  justice  of  God  and  purged 
his  country  of  treason,  Henry  sets  his  face  to  France 
with  the  Hght  of  splendid  achievement  in  his  eyes/ 

DowDEN :  Shakspere. 

V. 

The  Passing  of  Falstaff. 

It  is  quite  remarkable,  that  for  some  cause  or  other 
the  Poet  did  not  make  good  his  promise  touching  Fal- 
staff. Sir  John  does  not  once  appear  in  the  play.  Per- 
haps any  speculation  as  to  the  probable  reason  of  this 
were  more  curious  than  profitable ;  but  we  must  needs 
think  that  when  the  Poet  went  to  planning  the  drama  he 
saw  the  impracticability  of  making  anything  more  out 
of  him.  Sir  John's  dramatic  office  and  mission  were 
clearly  at  an  end,  when  his  connection  with  Prince 
Henry  was  broken  off;  the  purpose  of  the  character 
being,  as  we  have  seen,  to  explain  the  unruly  and  riotous 
courses  of  the  prince.  Besides,  he  must  needs  have  had 
so  much  of  manhood  in  him  as  to  love  the  prince,  else 
he  had  been  too  bad  a  man  for  the  prince  to  be  with;  and 
how  might  his  powers  of  making  sport  be  supposed  to 
survive  the  shock  of  being  thus  discarded  by  the  only 
person  on  earth  whom  he  had  the  virtue  to  love?  To 
have  reproduced  him  with  his  wits  shattered,  had  been 
injustice  to  him;  to  have  reproduced  him  with  his  wits 
sound  and  in  good  repair,  had  been  unjust  to  the  prince. 

Falstaff  repenting  and  reforming  was  indeed  a  much 
better  man;  but  then  in  that  capacity  he  was  not  for  us. 
So  that  Shakespeare  did  well,  no  doubt,  to  keep  him  in 
retirement  where,  though  his  once  matchless  powers  no 
longer  give  us  pleasure,  yet  the  report  of  his  sufferings 
gently  touches  our  pity,  and  recovers  him  to  the  breath 
of  our  human  sympathies.  To  our  sense,  therefore,  of  the 
matter,  the  Poet  has  here  drawn  the  best  lesson  from 
him  that  the  subject  might  yield.    We  have  already  seen 

13 


Comments  THE  LIFE  OF 

that  Falstaff's  character  grows  worse  and  worse  up  to 
the  close  of  the  preceding  play;  and  it  is  to  be  noted  how 
in  all  that  happens  to  him  the  being  cast  off  by  the  prince 
at  last  is  the  only  thing  that  really  hurts  his  feelings. 
And  as  this  is  the  only  thing  that  hurts  him,  so  it  is  the 
only  one  that  does  him  any  good;  for  he  is  strangely  in- 
accessible to  inward  suffering,  and  yet  nothing  but  this 
can  make  him  better.  His  abuse  of  Shallow's  hospitality 
is  exceedingly  detestable,  and  argues  that  hardening  of 
all  within,  which  tells  far  more  against  a  man  than  al- 
most any  amount  of  mere  sensuality.  And  yet  when  at 
last  the  Hostess  tells  us  ''  the  king  has  kill'd  his  heart," 
what  a  volume  of  redeeming  matter  is  suggested  con- 
cerning him!  We  then  for  the  first  time  begin  to  respect 
him  as  a  man,  because  we  see  that  he  has  a  heart  as  well 
as  a  brain,  and  that  it  is  through  his  heart  that  grief  is 
let  in  upon  him,  and  death  gets  the  mastery  of  him.  And 
indeed  the  very  absence  of  any  signs  of  tenderness  in  all 
the  rest  of  his  course  rather  favours  the  notion  of  there 
being  a  secret  reserve  of  it  laid  up  somewhere  in  him. 
And  notwithstanding  they  do  not  respect  him,  and  can 
at  best  but  stand  amazed  and  bewildered  at  his  over- 
powering freshets  of  humour,  it  is  still  observable  that 
those  who  see  much  of  him  get  strongly  attached  to  him; 
as  if  they  had  a  sort  of  blind  instinct  that  beneath  all  his 
overgrowth  of  sin  there  were  yet  some  stirrings  of  truth 
and  good;  that  the  seeds  of  virtue,  though  dormant, 
were  still  alive  within  him.  This,  as  hath  elsewhere  ap- 
peared, is  especially  the  case  with  that  strangely  inter- 
esting creature,  the  Hostess ;  and  now  we  can  scarce 
choose  but  think  better  of  both  Falstaff  and  Bardolph, 
when,  the  former  having  died,  and  a  question  having 
risen  as  to  where  he  has  gone,  the  latter  says,  "  Would 
I  were  with  him,  wheresome'er  he  is."  In  Mrs.  Quickly's 
account  of  his  last  moments  there  is  a  pathos  to  which 
we  know  of  nothing  similar,  and  which  is  as  touching 
as  it  is  peculiar.  His  character  having  a  tone  so  original, 
and  a  ring  so  firm  and  clear,  it  was  but  natural  that  upon 

14 


KING  HENRY  V.  Comments 

his  departure  he  should  leave  some  audible  vibrations 
in  the  air  behind  him.  The  last  of  these  dies  away  on  the 
ear  some  while  after,  when  the  learned  Welshman,  Flu- 
ellen,  uses  him  to  point  a  moral;  and  this  reference,  so 
queerly  characteristic,  is  abundantly  grateful,  as  serv- 
ing to  start  up  a  swarm  of  laughing  memories. 

Hudson  :  The  Woj'ks  of  Shakespeare. 

VI. 

Comic  Figures. 

The  popular  and  comic  parts  of  the  drama,  although 
the  originality  of  Falstaff's  wit  is  absent,  contains  scenes 
of  perfect  natural  gayety;  and  the  Welshman  Fluellen 
is  a  model  of  that  serious,  ingenious,  inexhaustible,  un- 
expected, and  jocose  military  talkativeness  which  excites 
at  once  our  laughter  and  our  sympathy. 

GuizoT  :  Shakspeare  and  His  Times. 


According  to  his  custom,  and  in  order  to  preserve  con- 
tinuity of  style  with  the  foregoing  plays,  Shakespeare 
has  interspersed  Henry  V.  with  comic  figures  and 
scenes.  Falstaff  himself  does  not  appear,  his  death  being 
announced  at  the  beginning  of  the  play;  but  the  mem- 
bers of  his  gang  wander  around,  as  living  and  ludicrous 
mementos  of  him,  until  they  disappear  one  by  one  by 
way  of  the  gallows,  so  that  nothing  may  survive  to  re- 
call the  great  king's  frivolous  youth.  To  console  us  for 
their  loss,  we  are  here  introduced  to  a  new  circle  of' 
comic  figures — soldiers  from  the  different  English- 
speaking  countries  which  make  up  what  we  now  call  the 
United  Kingdom.  Each  of  them  speaks  his  own  dialect, 
in  which  resides  much  of  the  comic  effect  for  English 
ears.  We  have  a  Welshman,  a  Scot,  and  an  Irishman. 
The  Welshman  is  intrepid,  phlegmatic,  somewhat  pedan- 
tic, but  all  fire  and  flame  for  discipline  and  righteous- 


Comments  THE  LIFE  OF 

ness;  the  Scot  is  immovable  in  his  equiHbrium,  even- 
tempered,  sturdy,  and  trustworthy;  the  Irishman  is  a 
true  Celt,  fiery,  passionate,  quarrelsome  and  apt  at  mis- 
understanding. Fluellen,  the  Welshman,  with  his  comic 
phlegm  and  manly  severity,  is  the  most  elaborate  of 
these  figures. 

But  in  placing  on  the  stage  these  representatives  of 
the  different  English-speaking  peoples,  Shakespeare  had 
another  and  deeper  purpose  than  that  of  merely  amusing 
his  public  with  a  medley  of  dialects.  At  that  time  the 
Scots  were  still  the  hereditary  enemies  of  England,  who 
always  attacked  her  in  the  rear  whenever  she  went  to 
war,  and  the  Irish  were  actually  in  open  rebellion. 
Shakespeare  evidently  dreamed  of  a  Greater  England, 
as  we  nowadays  speak  of  a  Greater  Britain.  When  he 
wrote  this  play.  King  James  of  Scotland  w^as  busily 
courting  the  favour  of  the  English,  and  the  question  of 
the  succession  to  the  throne,  when  the  old  Queen  should 
die,  was  not  definitely  settled.  Shakespeare  clearly  de- 
sired that,  with  the  coming  of  James,  the  old  national 
hatred  between  the  Scotch  and  the  -English  should 
cease. 

Brandes:    IVilliain  Shakespeare. 


The  group  of  English  soldiery  in  the  foreground  are, 
after  Henry,  by  far  the  most  detailed  figures,  and  alto- 
gether Shakespeare's  creation.  They  provide  a  new  East- 
cheap  in  which  the  king  indulges  the  humanities,  with- 
out the  riots,  of  the  old;  and  one  which,  in  its  relation 
to  the  old,  gives  us  a  subtle  measure  of  the  king's  rela- 
tion to  his  past.  Pistol  and  Bardolph,  the  old  victims 
of  FalstafY's  wit,  reappear  in  their  disreputable  decay 
with  a  congenial  third,  Nym;  but  Bardolph  promptly 
falls  a  victim  to  Henry's  insistence  on  honour  and  dis- 
cipline, and  Pistol's  moment  of  hollow  triumph  is  but  a 
prelude  to  his  final  humiliation;  while  the  Boy,  once  a 
promising  pupil  of  Bardolph's,  sums  up  their  character- 

i6 


KING  HENRY  Y.  Comments 

istics  at  the  outset  (III.  ii.)  with  the  honest  indignation 
and  the  merciless  candour  of  youth.  Falstaff  himself 
was  deliberately  excluded,  and  the  omission  is  the  more 
glaring  since  the  historic  Sir  John  Fastolfe  actually  ac- 
companied the  expedition,  and,  as  Shakespeare  read 
in  Holinshed,  was  left  by  Exeter  in  charge  of  Harfleur. 
But  with  Falstaff,  Shakespeare  must  have  felt,  there  was 
no  middle  way  between  banishment  and  the  old  cama- 
raderie. His  powerful  personality  would  have  violently 
disturbed  the  focus  of  the  play,  and  threatened  the  su- 
premacy of  Henry.  In  his  place  we  have  Fluellen,  a  less 
wonderful,  but  hardly  a  less  finished,  creation  of  comic 
genius.  Falstaff 's  humour  is  a  dazzling  solvent  of  truth; 
Fluellen's  a  whimsical  enforcement  of  it.  Falstaff's  finest 
jests  are  rooted  in  dishonour  and  breach  of  trust;  Flu- 
ellen's quaint  analogies  from  ancient  history  are  argu- 
ments for  valour,  discipline,  and  hero-worship. 

Herford  :   The  Eversley  Shakespeare, 

VII. 

The  Chorus. 

The  Poet  is  as  far  from  speaking  personally  in  the 
character  of  the  Chorus  as  in  any  other;  the  Chorus  ex- 
presses himself  with  a  pomp  of  diction  that  bespeaks  the 
enthusiasm  of  a  warm  partizan,  and  is  indeed  little  above 
an  idealization  of  the  vulgar,  though  a  vulgar  above  the 
lowest  sort.  He  embodies  the  spirit  of  the  crowd  that 
rush  well-dressed  to  any  bustle  of  external  parade,  and 
are  ever  ready  to  mistake  success  for  right  and  splendour 
for  glory,  gold  chains  for  judgement  and  a  uniform  for 
a  hero.  Chorus  represents  common  Opinion,  the  cloud 
that  diffuses  and  refracts  the  radiance  of  all  dashing  ex- 
ploits in  whatever  cause,  and  casts  withal  a  haze  about 
some  other  brilliancies  which  a  sober  judgement  must 
take  note  of  for  itself.  Nothing  can  differ  more  in  all  ex- 
ternal respects  from  the  lyric  chorus  of  the  Greek  trag- 
ic 


Comments  THE  LIFE  OF 

edy,  but  in  this  respect  it  is  nearly  coincident.  Setting- 
aside  the  formahzed  misconceptions  of  Horace  as  to  the 
function  of  the  Greek  chorus,  it  is  clear  that  from  the 
first  instances  of  its  assumption  of  human  as  apart  from 
daemonian  nature,  it  forms  the  link  between  the  exalted 
personages  of  the  fable  and  the  spectator,  exhibiting  the 
aspect  of  the  theme  as  received  by  minds  of  inferior 
stamp  and  order,  the  unheroic  and  variously  impressible 
as  contrasted  with  the  more  fixed  and  far-seeing  partici- 
pators in  the  action.  In  either  case  there  is  a  liability  for 
too  sympathizing  criticism  to  be  taken  rather  with  the 
example  than  the  warning,  to  acquiesce  in  the  tendencies 
that  yield  blame  rather  than  pity  to  the  heroic  but  un- 
fortunate Antigone,  and  give  applause  unmingled  with 
any  reservation  to  the  successful  bravery  and  ambition 
of  Henry;  but  this  is  a  liability  that  not  merely  self- 
respect  but  also  respect  for  their  audiences,  forbade  to 
be  entertained  either  by  Sophocles  or  Shakespeare. 
Lloyd:  Critical  Essays  on  the  Plays  of  Shakespeare. 

VIIL 

Epic  Elements. 

The  prologues,  which  unite  epic  pomp  and  solemnity 
with  lyrical  sublimity,  and  among  which  the  description 
of  the  two  camps  before  the  battle  of  Agincourt  forms 
a  most  admirable  night-piece,  are  intended  to  keep-  the 
spectators  constantly  in  mind  that  the  peculiar  grandeur 
of  the  actions  described  cannot  be  developed  on  a  nar- 
row stage,  and  that  they  must  therefore  supply  from 
their  own  imaginations  the  deficiencies  of  the  represen- 
tation. As  the  matter  was  not  properly  dramatic, 
Shakespeare  chose  to  wander  in  the  form  also  beyond 
the  bounds  of  the  species,  and  to  sing,  as  a  poetical  her- 
ald, what  he  could  not  represent  to  the  eye,  rather  than 
to  cripple  the  progress  of  the  action  by  putting  long 
descriptions  in  the  mouths  of  the  dramatic  personag^es. 

i8 


KING  HENRY  V.  Comments 

The  confession  of  the  Poet  that  "  four  or  five  most  vile 
and  ragged  foils,  right  ill-disposed,  can  only  disgrace 
the  name  of  Agincourt  "  (a  scruple  which  he  has  over- 
looked in  the  occasion  of  many  other  great  battles,  and 
among  others  of  that  of  Philippi),  brings  us  here  natu- 
rally to  the  question  how  far,  generally  speaking,  it  may 
be  suitable  and  advisable  to  represent  wars  and  battles 
on  the  stage.  The  Greeks  have  uniformly  renounced 
them :  as  in  the  whole  of  their  theatrical  system  they 
proceeded  on  ideas  of  grandeur  and  dignity,  a  feeble  and 
petty  imitation  of  the  unattainable  would  have  appeared 
insupportable  in  their  eyes.  With  them,  consequently, 
all  fighting  was  merely  recounted.  The  principle  of  the 
romantic  dramatists  was  altogether  different :  their  won- 
derful pictures  were  infinitely  larger  than  their  theatrical 
means  of  visible  execution;  they  were  everywhere 
obliged  to  count  on  the  willing  imagination  of  the  spec- 
tators ,and  consequently  the  yalso  relied  on  them  in  this 
point. 
Schlec.el:  Lectures  on  Dramatic  Art  and  Literature. 


He  proceeded  to  have  a  chronicle  in  hand  to  the  close 
of  his  career,  but  he  preserved  for.this  class  of  work  the 
laxity  of  evolution  and  lack  of  dramatic  design  which 
he  had  learned  in  his  youth;  and  thus,  side  by  side  with 
plays  the  prodigious  harmony  of  which  Shakespeare 
alone  could  have  conceived  or  executed,  we  have  an  epi- 
cal fragment,  like  Henry  V.,  which  is  less  a  drama  by  one 
particular  poet  than  a  fold  of  the  vast  dramatic  tapestry 
v/oven  to  the  glory  of  England  by  the  combined  poetic 
patriotism  of  the  Elizabethans.  Is  the  whole  of  what  we 
read  here  implicit  Shakespeare,  or  did  another  hand 
combine  with  his  to  decorate  this  portion  of  the  gallery? 
It  is  impossible  to  tell,  and  the  reply,  could  it  be  given, 
would  have  no  great  critical  value.  Henry  V.  is  not 
Othello. 

Gosse:  Short  History  of  Modern  English  Literature. 

19 


Comments 

Henry  V.,  drawn  from  the  same  sources,  is  a  continua- 
tion of  Henry  IV.,  and  presents  in  the  splendid  maturity 
of  the  king  one  of  Shakespeare's  great  men  of  action; 
a  type  in  which  his  own  time  was  rich,  and  in  the  dehn- 
eation  of  which,  being  himself  a  man  of  reflection  and 
expression,  the  Poet  found  infinite  satisfaction.  In  this 
play  the  events  of  a  reign  are  grouped  for  dramatic 
effectiveness,  and  war  is  dramatized  on  a  great  scale. 
The  material  is  essentially  epical,  but  the  treatment  is 
so  vigorous  that  the  play,  while  not  dramatic  in  the 
deepest  sense,  has  the  dignity  and  interest  of  a  drama. 
The  introduction  of  the  Chorus,  in  which  the  dramatist 
speaks  in  person,  shows  how  deeply  he  had  meditated  on 
his  art,  and  how  deliberately  he  had  rejected  the  con- 
ventional unities  of  time,  place,  and  action  for  the  sake 
of  the  higher  and  more  inclusive  unity  of  vital  expe- 
rience. No  other  play  so  nobly  expresses  the  deepening 
of  the  national  consciousness  at  the  end  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  and  the  rising  tide  of  national  feeling.  The 
play  is  a  great  national  epic;  and  the  secret  of  the  ex- 
pansion and  authority  of  the  English  race  is  to  be  found 
in  it. 
Mabie:  William  Shakespeare :  Poet,  Dramatist,  and  Man. 


20 


The  Life  of 
King  Henry  V* 


DRAMATIS  PERSONAE. 

King  Henry  the  Fifth. 

Duke  of  Gloucester,  )  ,     ,,  ,     ,^. 

-n,  T,  r  brothers  to  the  Kins.. 

Duke  of  Bedford,  f  ^ 

Duke  of  Exeter,  uncle  to  the  King. 

Duke  of  York,  cousin  to  the  King. 

Earls  of  Salisbury,  Westmoreland,  and  Warwick. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

Bishop  of  Ely. 

Earl  of  Cambridge. 

Lord  Scroop. 

Sir  Thomas  Grey. 

Sir  Thomas  Erpingham,  Gower,  Fluellen,  Macmorris, 

Jamy,  oncers  in  King  Henry's  army. 

Bates,  Court,  Williams,  soldiers  in  the  same. 

Pistol,  Nym,  Bardolph. 

Boy. 

A  Herald. 

Charles  the  Sixth.  King  of  France. 

Lewis,  the  Daufhin. 

Dukes  of  Burgundy,  Orleans,  and  Bourbon. 

The  Constable  of  France. 

Rambures  and  Grandpre,  French  Lords. 

Governor  of  Harfleur. 

Montjoy,  a  French  Herald. 

Ambassadors  to  the  King  of  England. 

Isabel,  Queen  of  France. 
Katharine,  daughter  to  Charles  and  Isabel. 
Alice,  a  lady  attending  on  her. 

Hostess  of  a  tavern  in  Eastcheap,  formerly  Mistress  Quickly, 
and  now  married  to  Pistol. 

Lords,   Ladies,   Officers,   Soldiers.   Citizens,   Messengers,   and 
Attendants. 

Chorus. 

Scene:    England;  afterwards  France. 

22 


The  Life  of 

KING  HENRY  V. 

PROLOGUE. 

Enter  Chorus. 

Chor.  O  for  a  muse  of  fire,  that  would  ascend 
The  brightest  heaven  of  invention, 
A  kingdom  for  a  stage,  princes  to  act 
And  monarchs  to  behold  the  swelling  scene! 
Then  should  the  warlike  Harry,  like  himself, 
Assume  the  port  of  Mars;  and  at  his  heels, 
Leash'd  in  like  hounds,  should  famine,  sword  and  fire 
Crouch  for  employment.     But  pardon,  gentles  all, 
The  flat  unraised  spirits  that  have  dared 
On  this  unworthy  scaffold  to  bring  forth  lo 

So  great  an  object:  can  this  cockpit  hold 
The  vasty  fields  of  France  ?  or  may  we  cram 
Within  this  wooden  O  the  very  casques 
That  did  affright  the  air  at  Agincourt? 
O,  pardon!    since  a  crooked  figure  may 
Attest  in  little  place  a  million ; 
And  let  us,  ciphers  to  this  great  accompt. 
On  your  imaginary  forces  work. 
Suppose  within  the  girdle  of  these  walls 
Are  now  confined  two  mighty  monarchies,  20 

Whose  high  upreared  and  abutting  fronts 
The  perilous  narrow  ocean  parts  asunder : 

23 


Act  I.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Piece  out  our  imperfections  with  your  thoughts; 

Into  a  thousand  parts  divide  one  man, 

And  make  imaginary  puissance; 

Think,  when  we  talk  of  horses,  that  you  see  them 

Printing  their  proud  hoofs  i'  the  receiving  earth; 

For  'tis  your  thoughts  that  now  must  deck  our  kings, 

Carry  them  here  and  there;   jumping  o'er  times. 

Turning  the  accomphshment  of  many  years  30 

Into  an  hour-glass :   for  the  which  supply, 

Admit  me  Chorus  to  this  history; 

Who  prologue-like  your  humble  patience  pray. 

Gently  to  hear,  kindly  to  judge,  our  play.  [Exit. 

ACT  FIRST. 
Scene  I. 

London.     An  ante-chamber  in  the  Kings  palace. 

Enter  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  the 
Bishop  of  Ely. 

Cant.  My  lord,  I  '11  tell  you;   that  self  bill  is  urged. 
Which  in  the  eleventh  year  of  the  last  king's  reign 
Was  like,  and  had  indeed  against  us  pass'd, 
But  that  the  scambling  and  unquiet  time 
Did  push  it  out  of  farther  question. 

Ely.  But  how,  my  lord,  shall  we  resist  it  now? 

Cant.  It  must  be  thought  on.     If  it  pass  against  us, 
We  lose  the  better  half  of  our  possession: 
For  all  the  temporal  lands,  which  men  devout 
By  testament  have  given  to  the  church,  10 

Would  they  strip  from  us  ;   being  valued  thus : 
As  much  as  would  maintain,  to  the  king's  honour, 

24 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  I.  Sc.  i. 

Full  fifteen  earls  and  fifteen  hundred  knights, 

Six  thousand  and  two  hundred  good  esquires; 

And,  to  relief  of  lazars  and  weak  age, 

Of  indigent  faint  souls  past  corporal  toil, 

A  hundred  almshouses  right  well  supplied; 

And  to  the  coffers  of  the  king  beside, 

A  thousand  pounds  by  the  year:  thus  runs  the  bill. 

Ely.  This  would  drink  deep. 

Cant.  'Twould  drink  the  cup  and  all.  20 

Ely.  But  what  prevention? 

Cant.  The  king  is  full  of  grace  and  fair  regard. 

Ely.  And  a  true  lover  of  the  holy  church. 

Cant.  The  courses  of  his  youth  promised  it  not. 
The  breath  no  sooner  left  his  father's  body, 
But  that  his  wildness,  mortified  in  him, 
Seem'd  to  die  too;  yea,  at  that  very  moment, 
Consideration  like  an  angel  came 
And  whipp'd  the  offending  Adam  out  of  him, 
Leaving  his  body  as  a  paradise,  30 

To  envelope  and  contain  celestial  spirits. 
Never  was  such  a  sudden  scholar  made; 
Never  came  reformation  in  a  flood, 
With  such  a  heady  currance,  scouring  faults; 
Nor  never  Hydra-headed  wilfulness 
So  soon  did  lose  his  seat,  and  all  at  once. 
As  in  this  king. 

Ely.  We  are  blessed  in  the  change. 

Cant.  Hear  him  but  reason  in  divinity. 
And  all-admiring  with  an  inward  w^ish 
You  would  desire  the  king  were  made  a  prelate:     40 
Hear  him  debate  of  commonwealth  affairs, 
You  would  say  it  hath  been  all  in  all  his  study : 

25 


Act  I.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

List  his  discourse  of  war,  and  you  shall  hear 

A  fearful  battle  render'd  you  in  music : 

Turn  him  to  any  cause  of  poUcy, 

The  Gordian  knot  of  it  he  will  unloose, 

Familiar  as  his  garter:  that,  when  he  speaks, 

The  air,  a  charter'd  libertine,  is  still, 

And  the  mute  wonder  lurketh  in  men's  ears. 

To  steal  his  sweet  and  honey'd  sentences;  50 

So  that  the  art  and  practic  part  of  life 

Must  be  the  mistress  to  this  theoric: 

Which  is  a  wonder  how  his  grace  should  glean  it, 

Since  his  addiction  was  to  courses  vain. 

His  companies  unletter'd,  rude  and  shallow, 

His  hours  fill'd  up  with  riots,  banquets,  sports. 

And  never  noted  in  him  any  study, 

Any  retirement,  any  sequestration 

From  open  haunts  and  popularity. 

Ely.  The  strawberry  grows  underneath  the  nettle,       60 
And  wholesome  berries  thrive  and  ripen  best 
Neighboured  by  fruit  of  baser  quality: 
And  so  the  prince  obscured  his  contemplation 
Under  the  veil  of  wildness;   which,  no  doubt. 
Grew  Hke  the  summer  grass,  fastest  by  night. 
Unseen,  yet  crescive  in  his  faculty. 

Cant.  It  must  be  so;  for  miracles  are  ceased; 

And  therefore  we  must  needs  admit  the  means 
How  things  are  perfected. 

Ely.  But,  my  good  lord, 

How  now  for  mitigation  of  this  bill  70 

Urged  by  the  commons?    Doth  his  majesty 
Incline  to  it,  or  no? 

Cant.  He  seems  indifferent, 

26 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  I.  Sc.  i. 

Or  rather  swaying  more  upon  our  part 

Than  cherishing  the  exhibiters  against  us ; 

For  I  have  made  an  offer  to  his  majesty, 

Upon  our  spiritual  convocation 

And  in  regard  of  causes  now  in  hand, 

Which  I  have  open'd  to  his  grace  at  large, 

As  touching  France,  to  give  a  greater  sum 

Than  ever  at  one  time  the  clergy  yet  80 

Did  to  his  predecessors  part  withal. 

Ely.  How  did  this  oft'er  seem  received,  my  lord? 

Cant.  With  good  acceptance  of  his  majesty; 

Save  that  there  was  not  time  enough  to  hear. 
As  I  perceived  his  grace  would  fain  have  done, 
The  severals  and  unhidden  passages 
Of  his  true  titles  to  some  certain  dukedoms. 
And  generally  to  the  crown  and  seat  of  France, 
Derived  from  Edward,  his  great-grandfather. 

Ely.  What  was  the  impediment  that  broke  this  off?      90 

Cant.  The  French  ambassador  upon  that  instant 

Craved  audience ;   and  the  hour,  I  think,  is  come 
To  give  him  hearing :  is  it  four  o'clock  ? 

Ely.  It  is. 

Cant.  Then  go  we  in,  to  know  his  embassy; 

Which  I  could  with  a  ready  guess  declare. 
Before  the  Frenchman  speak  a  word  of  it. 

Ely.  I  '11  wait  upon  you,  and  I  long  to  hear  it.       [Exeunt. 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Scene  II. 

The  same.     The  Presence  chamber. 

Enter  King  Henry,  Gloucester,  Bedford,  Exeter, 
Warzvick,  Westmoreland,  and  Attendants. 

K.  Hen.  Where  is  my  gracious  Lord  of  Canterbury  ? 

Exe.   Not  here  in  presence. 

K.  Hen.  Send  for  him,  good  uncle. 

West.  Shall  we  call  in  the  ambassador,  my  liege? 

K.  Hen.  Not  yet,  my  cousin :  we  would  be  resolved, 
Before  we  hear  him,  of  some  things  of  weight 
That  task  our  thoughts,  concerning  us  and  France. 

Enter  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  the 
Bishop  of  Ely. 

Cant.  God  and  his  angels  guard  your  sacred  throne. 
And  make  you  long  become  it ! 

K.  Henry.  Sure,  we  thank  you. 

My  learned  lord,  we  pray  you  to  proceed 
And  justly  and  religiously  unfold  lo 

Why  the  law  Salique  that  they  have  in  France 
Or  should,  or  should  not,  bar  us  in  our  claim : 
And  God  forbid,  my  dear  and  faithful  lord, 
That  you  should  fashion,  wrest,  or  bow  your  reading. 
Or  nicely  charge  your  understanding  soul 
With  opening  titles  miscreate,  whose  right 
Suits  not  in  native  colours  with  the  truth ; 
For  God  doth  know  how  many  now  in  health 
Shall  drop  their  blood  in  approbation 
Of  what  your  reverence  shall  incite  us  to.  20 

Therefore  take  heed  how  you  impawn  our  person. 
How  you  awake  our  sleeping  sword  of  war : 
We  charge  you,  in  the  name  of  God,  take  heed ; 

28 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

For  never  two  such  kingdoms  did  contend 
Without  much  fall  of  blood;   whose  guiltless  drops 
Are  every  one  a  woe,  a  sore  complaint 
'Gainst  him  whose  wrongs  give  edge  unto  the  swords 
That  make  such  waste  in  brief  mortality. 
Under  this  conjuration  speak,  my  lord; 
For  we  will  hear,  note  and  believe  in  heart  30 

That  what  you  speak  is  in  your  conscience  wash'd 
As  pure  as  sin  with  baptism. 
Cant.  Then  hear  me,  gracious  sovereign,  and  you  peers, 
That  owe  yourselves,  your  lives  and  services 
To  this  imperial  throne.     There  is  no  bar 
To  make  against  your  highness'  claim  to  France 
But  this,  which  they  produce  from  Pharamond, 
*  In  terram  Salicam  mulieres  ne  succedant '  : 
'  No  woman  shall  succeed  in  Salique  land  ' : 
Which  Salique  land  the  French  unjustly  gloze       40 
To  be  the  realm  of  France,  and  Pharamond 
The  founder  of  this  law  and  female  bar. 
Yet  their  own  authors  faithfully  affirm 
That  the  land  Salique  is  in  Germany, 
Between  the  floods  of  Sala  and  of  Elbe ; 
Where  Charles  the  Great,  having  subdued  the  Saxons, 
There  left  behind  and  settled  certain  French; 
Who,  holding  in  disdain  the  German  women 
For  some  dishonest  manners  of  their  life, 
Establish'd  then  this  law;    to  wit,  no  female         50 
Should  be  inheritrix  in  Salique  land  : 
Which  Salique,  as  I  said,  'twixt  Elbe  and  Sala, 
Is  at  this  day  in  Germany  call'd  Meisen. 
Then  doth  it  well  appear  the  Salique  law^ 
Was  not  devised  for  the  realm  of  France; 
29 


Act  I.Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Nor  did  the  French  possess  the  SaHque  land 

Until  four  hundred  one  and  twenty  years 

After  defunction  of  King  Pharamond, 

Idly  supposed  the  founder  of  this  law; 

Who  died  within  the  year  of  our  redemption  60 

Four  hundred  twenty-six  ;   and  Charles  the  Great 

Subdued  the  Saxons,  and  did  seat  the  French 

Beyond  the  river  Sala,  in  the  year 

Eight  hundred  five.     Besides,  their  writers  say, 

King  Pepin,   which   deposed   Childric, 

Did,  as  heir  general,  being  descended 

Of  Blithild,  which  was  daughter  to  King  Clothair, 

Make  claim  and  title  to  the  crown  of  France. 

Hugh  Capet  also,  who  usurp'd  the  crown 

Of  Charles  the  duke  of  Lorraine,  sole  heir  male      70 

Of  the  true  line  and  stock  of  Charles  the  Great, 

To  find  his  title  with  some  shows  of  truth, 

Though,  in  pure  truth,  it  was  corrupt  and  naught, 

Convey'd  himself  as  heir  to  the  Lady  Lingare, 

Daughter  to  Charlemain,  who  was  the  son 

To  Lewis  the  emperor,  and  Lewis  the  son 

Of  Charles  the  Great,     Also  King  Lewis  the  tenth, 

Who  was  sole  heir  to  the  usurper  Capet, 

Could  not  keep  quiet  in  his  conscience, 

Wearing  the  crown  of  France,  till  satisfied  80 

That  fair  Queen  Isabel,  his  grandmother, 

Was  lineal  of  the  Lady  Ermengare, 

Daughter  to  Charles  the  foresaid  duke  of  Lorraine: 

By  the  which  marriage  the  line  of  Charles  the  Great 

Was  re-umted  to  the  crown  of  France. 

So  that,  as  clear  as  is  the  summer's  sun, 

King  Pepin's  title  and  Hugh  Capet's  claim, 

3a 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

King  Lewis  his  satisfaction,  all  appear 
To  hold  in  right  and  title  of  the  female: 
So  do  the  kings  of  France  unto  this  day;  90 

Howbeit  they  would  hold  up  this  Salique  law 
To  bar  your  highness  claiming  from  the  female. 
And  rather  choose  to  hide  them  in  a  net 
Than  amply  to  imbar  their  crooked  titles 
Usurp'd  from  you  and  your  progenitors. 

K.  Hen.  May  I  with  right  and  conscience  make  this  claim? 

Cant.  The  sin  upon  my  head,  dread  sovereign! 
For  in  the  book  of  Numbers  is  it  writ, 
When  the  man  dies,  let  the  inheritance 
Descend  unto  the  daughter.     Gracious  lord,         100 
Stand  for  your  own;   unwind  your  bloody  flag; 
Look  back  into  your  mighty  ancestors: 
Go,  my  dread  lord,  to  your  great-grandsire's  tomb, 
From  whom  you  claim;   invoke  his  warlike  spirit, 
And  your  great-uncle's,  Edward  the  Black  Prince, 
Who  on  the  French  ground  play'd  a  tragedy, 
Making  defeat  on  the  full  power  of  France, 
Whiles  his  most  mighty  father  on  a  hill 
Stood  smiling  to  behold  his  lion's  whelp 
Forage  in  blood  of  French  nobility.  no 

O  noble  English,  that  could  entertain 
With  half  their  forces  the  full  pride  of  France 
And  let  another  half  stand  laughing  by. 
All  out  of  work  and  cold  for  action! 

Ely.  Awake  remembrance  of  these  valiant  dead, 
.    And  with  your  puissant  arm  renew  their  feats : 
You  are  their  heir ;   you  sit  upon  their  throne ; 
The  blood  and  courage  that  renowned  them 
Runs  in  your  veins;   and  my  thrice -puissant  liege 

31 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Is  in  the  very  May-morn  of  his  youth,  120 

Ripe  for  exploits  and  mighty  enterprises. 

E.ve.  Your  brother  kings  and  monarchs  of  the  earth 
Do  all  expect  that  you  should  rouse  yourself, 
As  did  the  former  lions  of  your  blood. 

West.  They  know  your  grace  hath  cause  and  means  and 
might; 
So  hath  your  highness;  never  king  of  England 
Had  nobles  richer  and  more  loyal  subjects, 
Whose  hearts  have  left  their  bodies  here  in  England 
And  lie  pavilion'd  in  the  fields  of  France. 

Cant.  O,  let  their  bodies  follow,  my  dear  liege,  130 

With  blood  and  sword  and  fire  to  win  your  right; 
In  aid  whereof  we  of  the  spiritualty 
Will  raise  your  highness  such  a  mighty  sum 
As  never  did  the  clergy  at  one  time 
Bring  in  to  any  of  your  ancestors. 

K.  Hen.  We  must  not  only  arm  to  invade  the  French, 
But  lay  down  our  proportions  to  defend 
Against  the  Scot,  who  will  make  road  upon  us 
With  all  advantages. 

Cant.  They  of  those  marches,  gracious  sovereign,     140 
Shall  be  a  wall  sufficient  to  defend 
Our  inland  from  the  pilfering  borderers. 

K.  Hen.  We  do  not  mean  the  coursing  snatchers  only, 
But  fear  the  main  intendment  of  the  Scot, 
Who  hath  been  still  a  giddy  neighbour  to  us; 
For  you  shall  read  that  my  great-grandfather 
Never  went  with  his  forces  into  France, 
But  that  the  Scot  on  his  unfurnish'd  kingdom 
Came  pouring,  like  the  tide  into  a  breach. 
With  ample  and  brim  fulness  of  his  force,  150 

32 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

Galling  the  gleaned  land  with  hot  assays, 
Girding  with  grievous  siege  casdes  and  towns; 
That  England,  being  empty  of  defence, 
Hath  shook  and  trembled  at  the  ill  neighbourhood. 
Cant.  She  hath  been  then  more  fear'd  than  harnrd,  my 
liege ; 
For  hear  her  but  exampled  by  herself; 
When  all  her  chivalry  hath  been  in  France, 
And  she  a  mourning  widow  of  her  nobles, 
She  hath  herself  not  only  well  defended. 
But  taken  and  impounded  as  a  stray  i6o 

The  King  of  Scots;   whom  she  did  send  to  France, 
To  fill  King  Edward's  fame  with  prisoner  kings, 
And  make  her  chronicle  as  rich  with  praise, 
As  is  the  ooze  and  bottom  of  the  sea 
With  sunken  wreck  and  sumless  treasuries. 
West.  But  there  's  a  saying  very  old  and  true, 
'  If  that  you  will  France  win, 
Then  with  Scotland  first  begin  ' : 
For  once  the  eagle  England  being  in  prey. 
To  her  unguarded  nest  the  weasel  Scot  170 

Comes  sneaking  and  so  sucks  her  princely  eggs. 
Playing  the  mouse  in  absence  of  the  cat, 
To  tear  and  havoc  more  than  she  can  eat. 
Exc.  It  follows  then  the  cat  must  stay  at  home: 
Yet  that  is  but  a  crush'd  necessity, 
Since  we  have  locks  to  safeguard  necessaries, 
And  pretty  traps  to  catch  the  petty  thieves. 
While  that  the  armed  hand  doth  fight  abroad, 
The  advised  head  defends  itself  at  home; 
For  government,  though  high  and  low  and  lower, 
Put  into  parts,  doth  keep  in  one  consent,  181 

33 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Congreeing  in  a  full  and  natural  close, 
Like  music. 
Cauf.  Therefore  doth  heaven  divide 

The  state  of  man  in  divers  functions, 
Setting  endeavour  in  continual  motion; 
To  which  is  fixed,  as  an  aim  or  butt, 
Obedience:   for  so  work  the  honey-bees, 
Creatures  that  by  a  rule  in  nature  teach 
The  act  of  order  to  a  peopled  kingdom. 
They  have  a  king  and  officers  of  sorts!    '  190 

Where  some,  like  magistrates,  correct  at  home, 
Others,  like  merchants,  venture  trade  abroad. 
Others,  like  soldiers,  armed  in  their  stings, 
oMake  boot  upon  the  summer's  velvet  buds, 
Which  pillage  they  with  merry  march  bring  home 
To  the  tent-royal  of  their  emperor; 
Who,  busied  in  his  majesty,  surveys 
The  singing  masons  building  roofs  of  gold, 
The  civil  citizens  kneading  up  the  honey, 
The  poor  mechanic  porters  crowding  in  200 

Their  heavy  burdens  at  his  narrow  gate, 
The  sad-eyed  justice,  with  his  surly  hum. 
Delivering  o'er  to  executors  pale 
The  lazy  yawning  drone.     I  this  infer. 
That  many  things,  having  full  reference 
To  one  consent,  may  work  contrariously: 
As  many  arrows,  loosed  several  ways, 
Come  to  one  mark  ;  as  many  ways  meet  in  one  town  ; 
As  many  fresh  streams  meet  in  one  salt  sea; 
As  many  lines  close  in  the  dial's  centre;  210 

So  may  a  thousand  actions,  once  afoot, 
End  in  one  purpose,  and  be  all  well  borne 

34 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  I.  Sc.  il 

Without  defeat.     Therefore  to  France,  my  Hege. 
Divide  your  happy  England  into  four ; 
Whereof  take  you  one  quarter  into  France, 
And  you  withal  shall  make  all  Gallia  shake. 
If  we,  with  thrice  such  powers  left  at  home,  , 
Cannot  defend  our  own  doors  from  the  dog, 
Let  us  be  worried  and  our  nation  lose 
The  name  of  hardiness  and  poHcy.  220 

K.  Hen.  Call  in  the  messengers  sent  from  the  Dauphin. 

[Exeunt  some  Attendcvits. 
Now  are  we  well  resolved;   and,  by  God's  help. 
And  yours,  the  noble  sinews  of  our  power, 
France  being  ours,  we'll  bend  it  to  our  awe,. 
Or  break  it  all  to  pieces:  or  there  we  '11  sit. 
Ruling  in  large  and  ample  empery 
O'er  France  and  all  her  almost  kingly  dukedoms, 
Or  lay  these  bones  in  an  unworthy  urn, 
Tombless,  with  no  remembrance  over  them : 
Either  our  history  shall  wnth  full  mouth  230 

Speak  freely  of  our  acts,  or  else  our  grave, 
Like  Turkish  mute,  shall  have  a  tongueless  mouth. 
Not  worshipp'd  with  a  waxen  epitaph. 

Enter  Ambassadors  of  Erancc. 

Now  are  we  well  prepared  to  know  the  pleasure 
Of  our  fair  cousin  Dauphin;   for  we  hear 
Your  greeting  is  from  him,  not  from  the  king. 

Eirst  Amb.  May  't  please  your  majesty  to  give  us  leave 
Freely  to  render  wdiat  w^e  have  in  charge; 
Or  shall  we  sparingly  show  you  far  off 
The  Dauphin's  meaning  and  our  embassy?  240 

K.  Hen.  We  are  no  tyrant,  but  a  Christian  king; 

35 


Act  I.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Unto  whose  grace  our  passion  is  as  subject 
As  are  our  wretches  fetter'd  in  our  prisons : 
Therefore  with  frank  and  with  uncurbed  plainness 
Tell  us  the  Dauphin's  mind. 

First  Amb.  Thus,  then,  in  few. 

Your  highness,  lately  sending  into  France, 
Did  claim  some  certain  dukedoms,  in  the  right 
Of  your  great  predecessor,  King  Edward  the  third. 
In  answer  of  which  claim,  the  prince  our  master 
Says  that  you  savour  too  much  of  your  youth,     250 
And  bids  you  be  advised  there  's  nought  in  France 
That  can  be  with  a  nimble  galliard  won ; 
You  cannot  revel  into  dukedoms  there. 
He  therefore  sends  you,  meeter  for  your  spirit, 
This  tun  of  treasure;   and,  in  lieu  of  this. 
Desires  you  let  the  dukedoms  that  you  claim 
Hear  no  more  of  you.     This  the  Dauphin  speaks. 

K.  Hen.  What  treasure,  uncle  ? 

Exe.  Tennis-balls,  my  liege. 

K.  Hen.  We  are  glad  the  Dauphin  is  so  pleasant  with  us  ; 
His  present  and  your  pains  we  thank  you  for :      260 
When  we  have  match'd  our  rackets  to  these  balls. 
We  will,  in  France,  by  God's  grace,  play  a  set 
Shall  strike  his  father's  crown  into  the  hazard. 
Tell  him  he  hath  made  a  match  with  such  a  wrangler 
That  all  the  courts  of  France  will  be  disturb'd 
With  chaces.     And  we  understand  him  well, 
How  he  comes  o'er  us  with  our  wilder  days. 
Not  measuring  what  use  we  made  of  them. 
We  never  valued  this  poor  seat  of  England; 
And  therefore,  living  hence,  did  give  ourself         270 
To  barbarous  license ;   as  'tis  ever  common 
36 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  I.  Sc.  ii. 

That  men  are  merriest  when  they  are  from  home. 

But  tell  the  Dauphin  I  will  keep  my  state, 

Be  like  a  king  and  show  my  sail  of  greatness 

When  I  do  rouse  me  in  my  throne  of  France: 

For  that  I  have  laid  by  my  majesty, 

And  plodded  like  a  man  for  working-days; 

But  I  will  rise  there  with  so  full  a  glory 

That  I  will  dazzle  all  the  eyes  of  France, 

Yea,  strike  the  Dauphin  blind  to  look  on  us.       280 

And  tell  the  pleasant  prince  this  mock  of  his 

Hath  turn'd  his  balls  to  gun-stones;   and  his  soul 

Shall  stand  sore  charged  for  the  wasteful  vengeance 

That  shall  fly  with  them  :  for  many  a  thousand  widows 

Shall  this  his  mock  mock  out  of  their  dear  husbands ; 

Mock  mothers  from  their  sons,  mock  castles  down; 

And  some  are  yet  ungotten  and  unborn 

That  shall  have  cause  to  curse  the  Dauphin's  scorn. 

But  this  lies  all  within  the  will  of  God, 

To  whom  I  do  appeal ;  and  in  whose  name  290 

Tell  you  the  Dauphin  I  am  coming  on, 

To  venge  me  as  I  may  and  to  put  forth 

My  rightful  hand  in  a  well-hallow'd  cause. 

So  get  you  hence  in  peace;   and  tell  the  Dauphin 

His  jest  will  savour  but  of  shallow  wit. 

When  thousands  weep  more  than  did  laugh  at  it. 

Convey  them  with  safe  conduct.     Fare  you  well. 

[Exeunt  Ambassadors. 

Exe.  This  was  a  merry  message. 

K.  Hen.  We  hope  to  make  the  sender  blush  at  it. 

Therefore,  my  lords,  omit  no  happy  hour  300 

That  may  give  furtherance  to  our  expedition; 
For  we  have  now  no  thought  in  us  but  France, 

Z7 


Act  II.  Prologue  THE  LIFE  OF 

Save  those  to  God,  that  run  before  our  business. 
Therefore  let  our  proportions  for  these  wars 
Be  soon  collected,  and  all  things  thought  upon 
That  may  with  reasonable  swiftness  add 
More  feathers  to  our  wings;    for,  God  before, 
We  '11  chide  this  Dauphin  at  his  father's  door. 
Therefore  let  every  man  now  task  his  thought, 
That  this  fair  action  may  on  foot  be  brought.        310 

[Exeunt.     Flourish. 

ACT  SECOND. 
Prologue. 

Enter  Chorus. 

Char.  Now  all  the  youth  of  England  are  on  fire. 
And  silken  dalliance  in  the  wardrobe  lies: 
Now  thrive  the  armourers,  and  honour's  thought 
Reigns  solely  in  the  breast  of  every  man: 
They  sell  the  pasture  now  to  buy  the  horse, 
Following  the  mirror  of  all  Christian  kings, 
With  winged  heels,  as  English  Mercuries. 
P'or  now  sits  Expectation  in  the  air. 
And  hides  a  sword  from  hilts  unto  the  point 
With  crowns  imperial,  crowns  and  coronets;  10 

Promised  to  Harry  and  his  followers. 
The  French,  advised  by  good  intelligence 
Of  this  most  dreadful  preparation. 
Shake  in  their  fear  and  with  pale  policy 
Seek  to  divert  the  EngHsh  purposes. 
O  England!    model  to  thy  inward  greatness. 
Like  little  body  with  a  mighty  heart, 

38 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  i. 

What  mightst  thou  do,  that  honour  would  thee  do, 

Were  all  thy  children  kind  and  natural! 

But  see  thy  fault!   France  hath  in  thee  found  out  20 

A  nest  of  hollow  bosoms,  which  he  fills 

With  treacherous  crowns  ;  and  three  corrupted  men. 

One,  Richard  Earl  of  Cambridge,  and  the.  second, 

Henry  Lord  Scroop  of  Masham,  and  the  third, 

Sir  Thomas  Grey,  knight,  of  Northumberland, 

Have,  for  the  gilt  of  France, — O  guilt  indeed! — 

Confirm'd  conspiracy  wath  fearful  France; 

And  by  their  hands  this  grace  of  kings  must  die. 

If  hell  and  treason  hold  their  promises, 

Ere  he  take  ship  for  France,  and  in  Southampton.     30 

Linger  your  patience  on;   and  we'll  digest 

The  abuse  of  distance  ;  force  a  play  : 

The  sum  is  paid;  the  traitors  are  agreed; 

The  king  is  set  from  London  ;   and  the  scene 

Is  now  transported,  gentles,  to  Southampton; 

There  is  the  playhouse  now,  there  must  you  sit : 

And  thence  to  France  shall  we  convey  you  safe, 

And  bring  you  back,  charming  the  narrow  seas 

To  give  you  gentle  pass;  for,  if  we  may. 

We  '11  not  offend  one  stomach  with  our  play.         40 

But,  till  the  king  come  forth,  and  not  till  then, 

Unto  Southampton  do  w^e  shift  our  scene.        [Exit. 

Scene  I. 

London.     A  street. 

Enter  Corporal  Nyni  and  Lieutenant  Bardolph. 

Bard.  Well  met.  Corporal  Nym. 

Nyni,  Good  morrow.  Lieutenant  Bardolph. 

39 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Bard.  What,  are  Ancient  Pistol  and  you  friends  yet? 

Nym.  For  my  part,  I  care  not :  I  say  little  ;  but  when 
time  shall  serve,  there  shall  be  smiles;  but  that 
shall  be  as  it  may.  I  dare  not  fight;  but  I  will 
wink  and  hold  out  mine  iron :  it  is  a  simple  one ; 
but  what  though?  it  will  toast  cheese,  and  it 
will  endure  cold  as  another  man's  sword  will: 
and  there  's  an  end.  lo 

Bard.  I  will  bestow  a  breakfast  to  make  you  friends ; 
and  we  '11  be  all  three  sworn  brothers  to  France: 
let  it  be  so,  good  Corporal  Nym. 

Nym.  Faith,  I  will  live  so  long  as  I  may,  that 's  the 
certain  of  it ;  and  when  I  cannot  live  any 
longer,  I  will  do  as  I  may :  that  is  my  rest,  that 
is  the  rendezvous  of  it. 

Bard.  It  is  certain,  corporal,  that  he  is  married  to 
Nell  Quickly:  and,  certainly,  she  did  you 
wrong;    for  you  were  troth-plight  to  her.  20 

Nym.  I  cannot  tell :  things  must  be  as  they  may : 
men  may  sleep,  and  they  may  have  their  throats 
about  them  at  that  time;  and  some  say  knives 
have  edges.  It  must  be  as  it  may:  though 
patience  be  a  tired  mare,  yet  she  will  plod. 
There  must  be  conclusions.    Well,  I  cannot  tell. 

Enter  Pistol  and  Hostess. 

Bard.  Here  comes  Ancient  Pistol  and  his  wife :  good 

corporal,  be  patient  here.    How  now,  mine  host 

Pistol! 
Pist.  Base  tike,  call'st  thou  me  host?  30 

Now,  by  this  hand,  I  swear,  I  scorn  the  term; 

Nor  shall  my  Nell  keep  lodgers. 
40 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  i. 

Host.  No,  by  my  troth,  not  long;  for  we  cannot 
lodge  and  board  a  dozen  or  fourteen  gentle- 
women that  live  honestly  by  the  prick  of  their 
needles,  but  it  will  be  thought  we  keep  a  bawdy 
house  straight.  [Nym  and  Pistol  draiv.\  O 
well  a  day.  Lady,  if  he  be  not  drawn  now !  we 
shall  see  wilful  adultery  and  murder  com- 
mitted. 40 

Bard.  Good  lieutenant !  good  corporal !  offer  noth- 
ing here. 

Nym.  Pish! 

Pist.  Pish  for  thee,  Iceland  dog!   thou  prick-ear'd  cur  of 
Iceland ! 

Host.  Good  Corporal  Nym,  show  thy  valour,  and 
put  up  your  sword. 

Nym.  Will  you  shog  off?     I  would  have  you  solus. 

Pist.  '  Solus,' egregious  dog?     O  viper  vile  ! 
The  '  solus  '  in  thy  most  mervailous  face ; 
The  '  solus  '  in  thy  teeth,  and  in  thy  throat,  50 

And  in  thy  hateful  lungs,  yea,  in  thy  maw,  perdy, 
And,  which  is  worse,  within  thy  nasty  mouth ! 
I  do  retort  the  '  solus  '  in  thy  bowels ; 
For  I  can  take,  and  Pistol's  cock  is  up, 
And  flashing  fire  will  follow. 

Nym.  I  am  not  Barbason  ;  you  cannot  conjure  me. 
I  have  an  humour  to  knock  you  indifferently 
well.  If  you  grow  foul  with  me.  Pistol,  I  will 
scour  you  with  my  rapier,  as  I  may,  in  fair 
terms :  if  you  would  walk  off,  I  would  prick  60 
your  guts  a  little,  in  good  terms,  as  I  may :  and 
that 's  the  humour  of  it. 

Pist.  O  braggart  vile,  and  damned  furious  wight! 

41 


Act  II.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  grave  doth  gape,  and  doting  death  is  near; 

Therefore  exhale. 
Bard.  Hear  me,  hear  me  what  I  say :   he  that  strikes 

the  first  stroke,  I  '11  run  him  up  to  the  hilts,  as 

I  am  a  soldier.  \Drazi.'S. 

Pisf.  An  oath  of  mickle  might ;  and  fury  shall  abate. 

Give  me  thy  fist,  thy  fore- foot  to  me  give  :  70 

Thy  spirits  are  most  tall. 
N'ynu  I  will  cut  thy  throat,  one  time  or  other,  in  fair 

terms :   that  is  the  humour  of  it. 
Pist.  '  Couple  a  gorge ! ' 

That  is  the  word.     I  thee  defy  again. 

0  hound  of  Crete,  think'st  thou  my  spouse  to  get? 
No ;  to  the  spital  go. 

And  from  the  powdering-tub  of  infamy 

Fetch  forth  the  lazar  kite  of  Cressid's  kind, 

Doll  Tearsheet  she  by  name,  and  her  espouse :         80 

1  have,  and  I  will  hold,  the  quondam  Quickly 
For  the  only  she ;   and — pauca,  there  's  enough. 
Go  to. 

Enter  the  Boy. 

Boy.  Mine  host  Pistol,  you  must  come  to  my  master, 
and  you,  hostess :  he  is  very  sick,  and  would  to 
bed.  Good  Bardolph,  put  thy  face  between  his 
sheets,  and  do  the  office  of  a  warming-pan. 
Faith,  he  's  very  ill. 

Bard.  Away,  you  rogue ! 

Host.  By  my  troth,  he  '11  yield  the  crow  a  pudding     90 
one  of  these  days.     The  king  has  killed  his  heart. 
Good  husband,  come  home  presently. 

[Exeunt  Hostess  and  boy. 

Bard.  Come,   shall   I  make  you  two   friends?     We 

42 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  i. 

must  to  France  together :    why  the  devil  should 
we  keep  knives  to  cut  one  another's  throats? 

Pist.  Let  floods  o'erswell,  and  fiends  for  food  howl  on  ! 

Nym.  You  '11  pay  me  the  eight  shillings  I  won  of  you 
at  betting  ? 

Pist.  Base  is  the  slave  that  pays. 

Nym.  That  now  I  will  have  :  that 's  the  humour  of  it.  lOO 

Pist.  As  manhood  shall  compound :    push  home. 

[They  draw. 

Bard.  By  this  sword,  he  that  makes  the  first  thrust, 
I  '11  kill  him ;   by  this  sword,  I  will. 

Pist.  Sword  is  an  oath,  and  oaths  must  have  their  course. 

Bard.  Corporal  Nym,  an  thou  wilt  be  friends,  be 
friends :  an  thou  wilt  not,  why,  then,  be  ene- 
mies with  me  too.     Prithee,  put  up. 

Nym,  I  shall  have  my  eight  shillings  I  won  of  you 
at  betting? 

Pist.  A  noble  shalt  thou  have,  and  present  pay  ;  i  lo 

And  liquor  likewise  will  I  give  to  thee. 
And  friendship  shall  combine,  and  brotherhood : 
I  '11  live  by  Nym,  and  Nym  shall  live  by  me ; 
Is  not  this  just?   for  I  shall  sutler  be 
Unto  the  camp,  and  profits  will  accrue. 
Give  me  thy  hand. 

Nym.  I  shall  have  my  noble  ? 

Pist.  In  cash  most  justly  paid. 

Nym.  Well,  then,  that 's  the  humour  of  't. 

Re-enter  Hostess. 

Host.  As  ever  you  came  of  women,  come  in  quickly  I20 
to  Sir  John.     Ah,  poor  heart !    he  is  so  shaked 
of  a  burning  quotidian  tertian,  that  it  is  most 

43 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

lamentable  to  behold.     Sweet  men,  come  to  him. 
Nym.  The  king  hath  run  bad  humours  on  the  knight ; 

that 's  the  even  of  it. 
Pist.  Nym,  thou  hast  spoke  the  right ; 

His  heart  is  fracted  and  corroborate. 
Nym.  The  king  is  a  good  king :   but  it  must  be  as  it 

may;   he  passes  some  humours  and  careers.  130 

Pist.  Let  us  condole  the  knight;    for,  lambkins,  we  will 
live. 

Scene  II. 

Southampton.     A  coiuicil-chamher. 
Enter  Exeter,  Bedford,  and  Westmoreland. 

Bed.  'Fore  God,  his  grace  is  bold,  to  trust  these  traitors. 

Exe.  They  shall  be  apprehended  by  and  by. 

West.  How  smooth  and  even  they  do  bear  themselves  !     , 
As  if  allegiance  in  their  bosoms  sat, 
Crowned  with  faith  and  constant  loyalty. 

Bed.  The  king  hath  note  of  all  that  they  intend, 
By  interception  which  they  dream  not  of. 

Exe.  Nay,  but  the  man  that  was  his  bedfellow, 

Whom  he  hath  duU'd  and  cloy'd  with  gracious  fa- 
vours. 
That  he  should,  for  a  foreign  purse,  so  sell  10 

His  sovereign's  life  to  death  and  treachery. 

Trumpets  sound.     Enter  King  Henry,  Scroop,  Cam- 
bridge, Grey,  and  Attendants. 

K.  Hen.   Now  sits  the  wind  fair,  and  we  will  aboard. 

My  Lord  of  Cambridge,  and  my  kind  Lord  of  Ma- 
sham, 

44 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

And  you,  my  gentle  Knight,  give  me  your  thoughts : 
Think  you  not  that  the  powers  we  bear  with  us 
A¥ill  cut  their  passage  through  the  force  of  France, 
Doing  the  execution  and  the  act 
For  which  we  have  in  head  assembled  them? 

Scroop.  No  doubt,  my  liege,  if  each  man  do  his  best. 

K.  Hen.  I  doubt  not  that ;   since  we  are  well  persuaded 
We* carry  not  a  heart  with  us  from  hence  21 

That  grows  not  in  a  fair  consent  with  ours, 
Nor  leave  not  one  behind  that  doth  not  wish 
Success  and  conquest  to  attend  on  us. 

Cam.   Never  was  monarch  better  fear'd  and  loved 

Than  is  your  majesty :  there  's  not,  I  think,  a  subject 
That  sits  in  heart-grief  and  uneasiness 
ITnder  the  sweet  shade  of  your  government. 

Crcy.  True :  those  that  were  your  father's  enemies 
Have  steep'd  their  galls  in  honey,  and  do  serve  you 
With  hearts  create  of  duty  and  of  zeal.  31 

/f.  Hen.  We  therefore  have  great  cause  of  thankfulness ; 
And  shall  forget  the  office  of  our  hand. 
Sooner  than  quittance  of  desert  and  merit 
According  to  the  weight  and  worthiness. 

Scroop.   So  service  shall  with  steeled  sinews  toil, 
And  labour  shall  refresh  itself  with  hope, 
To  do  your  grace  incessant  services. 

K.  Hen.  W^e  judge  no  less.     Uncle  of  Exeter, 

Enlarge  the  man  committed  yesterday,  40 

That  rail'd  against  our  person  :   we  consider 
It  was  excess  of  wine  that  set  him  on  ; 
And  on  his  more  advice  we  pardon  him. 

Scroop.  That  's  mercy,  but  too  much  security : 
Let  him  be  punish'd,  sovereign,  lest  example 

45 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Breed,  by  his  sufferance,  more  of  such  a  kind. 

K.  Hen.  O,  let  us  yet  be  merciful. 

Cam.   So  may  your  highness,  and  yet  punish  too. 

Grey.  Sir, 

You  show  great  mercy,  if  you  give  him  life,  50 

After  the  taste  of  much  correction. 

K.  Hen.  Alas,  your  too  much  love  and  care  of  me 
Are  heavy  orisons  'gainst  this  poor  wretch!' 
If  little  faults,  proceeding  on  distemper. 
Shall  not  be  winkVl  at,  how  shall  we  stretch  our  eye 
When  capital  crimes,  chew'd,  swallow'd  and  digested, 
Appear  before  us  ?     We  '11  yet  enlarge  that  man, 
Though  Cambridge,  Scroop  and  Grey,  in  their  dear 

care 
And  tender  preservation  of  our  person, 
Would  have  him  punish'd.     And  now  to  our  French 
causes :  60 

Who  are  the  late  commissioners? 

Cam.  I  one,'  my  lord : 

Your  highness  bade  me  ask  for  it  to-day. 

Scroop.  So  did  you  me,  my  liege. 

Grey.  And  I,  my  royal  sovereign. 

K.  Hen.  Then,    Richard     Earl    of    Cambridge,    there    is 
yours  ; 
There  yours,  Lord  Scoop  of  Alasham  ;  and,  sir  knight. 
Grey  of  Northumberland,  this  same  is  yours : 
Read  them ;   and  know,  I  know  your  worthiness. 
My  Lord  of  Westmoreland,  and  uncle  Exeter,         70 
We  will  aboard  to-night.    Why,  how  now,  gentlemen  ! 
\\'hat  see  you  in  those  papers  that  you  lose 
So  much  complexion  ?     Look  ye,  how  they  change ! 
Their  cheeks  are  paper.     Why,  what  read  you  there, 

46 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

That  hath  so  cowarded  and  chased  your  blood 
Out  of  appearance? 
Caju.  I  do  confess  my  fault; 

And  do  submit  me  to  your  highness'  mercy. 

^''^'^'-     I  To  which  we  all  appeal. 
Scroop.  ) 

K.  Hen.  The  mercy  that  was  quick  in  us  but  late, 

By  your  own  counsel  is  suppress'd  and  kill'd :         80 

You  must  not  dare,  for  shame,  to  talk  of  mercy; 

For  your  own  reasons  turn  into  your  bosoms, 

As  dogs  upon  their  masters,  worrying  you. 

See  you,  my  princes  and  my  noble  peers. 

These  English  monsters!     My  lord  of  Cambridge 

here. 

You  know  how  apt  our  love  was  to  accord 

To  furnish  him  with  all  appertinents 

Belonging  to  his  honour;   and  this  man 

Hath,  for  a  few  light  crowns,  lightly  conspired, 

And  sworn  unto  the  practices  of  France,  90 

To  kill  us  here  in  Hampton:    to  the  which 

This  knight,  no  less  for  bounty  bound  to  us 

Than  Cambridge  is,  hath  likewise  sworn.     But,  O, 

What  shall  I  say  to  thee.  Lord  Scroop?   thou  cruel, 

Ingrateful,  savage  and  inhuman  creature! 

Thou  that  didst  bear  the  key  of  all  my  counsels, 

That  knew'st  the  very  bottom  of  my  soul, 

That  almost  mightst  have  coin'd  me  into  gold, 

Wouldst  thou  have  practised  on  me  for  thy  use, 

May  it  be  possible,  that  foreign  hire  100 

Could  out  of  thee  extract  one  spark  of  evil 

That  might  annoy  my  finger?   'tis  so  strange. 

That,  though  the  truth  of  it  stands  off  as  gross 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

As  black  and  white,  my  eye  will  scarcely  see  it. 
Treason  and  murder  ever  kept  together, 
As  two  yoke-devils  sworn  to  cither's  purpose, 
Working  so  grossly  in  a  natural  cause, 
That  admiration  did  not  hoop  at  them: 
But  thou,  'gainst  all  proportion,  didst  bring  in 
Wonder  to  wait»on  treason  and  on  murder:  no 

And  whatsoever  cunning  fiend  it  was  ' 
That  wrought  upon  thee  so  preposterously 
Hath  got  the  voice  in  hell  for  excellence: 
All  other  devils  that  suggest  by  treasons 
Do  botch  and  bungle  up  damnation 
With  patches,  colours,  and  with  forms  being  fetch'd 
From  glistering  semblances  of  piety; 
But  he  that  temper'd  thee  bade  thee  stand  up. 
Gave  thee  no  instance  why  thou  shouldst  do  treason, 
Unless  to  dub  thee  with  the  name  of  traitor.  120 

If  that  same  demon  that  hath  gull'd  thee  thus 
Should  with  his  lion  gait  walk  the  whole  world, 
He  might  return  to  vasty  Tartar  back. 
And  tell  the  legions  '  I  can  never  win 
A  soul  so  easy  as  that  Englishman's.' 
O,  how  hast  thou  with  jealousy  infected 
The  sweetness  of  affiance!     Show  men  dutiful? 
Why,  so  didst  thou  :  seem  they  grave  and  learned  ? 
Why,  so  didst  thou:   come  they  of  noble  family? 
Why,  so  didst  thou:    seem  they  religious?  130 

Why,  so  didst  thou:   or  are  they  spare  in  diet. 
Free  from  gross  passion  or  of  mirth  or  anger, 
Constant  in  spirit,  not  swerving  with  the  blood, 
Garnish'd  and  deck'd  in  modest  complement, 
Not  working  with  the  eye  without  the  ear, 
48 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  ii. 

And  but  in  purged  judgement  trusting  neither? 

Such  and  so  finely  bolted  didst  thou  seem : 

And  thus  thy  fall  hath  left  a  kind  of  blot, 

To  mark  the  full-fraught  man  and  best  indued 

With  some  suspicion.     I  will  weep  for  thee;         140 

For  this  revolt  of  thine,  methinks,  is  like 

Another  fall  of  man.     Their  faults  are  open: 

Arrest  them  to  the  answer  of  the  law; 

And  God  acquit  them  of  their  practices ! 
Exe.  I  arrest  thee  of  high  treason,  by  the  name  of 

Richard  Earl  of  Cambridge. 

I  arrest  thee  of  high  treason,  by  the  name  of 

Henry  Lord  Scroop  of  Masham. 

I  arrest  thee  of  high  treason,  by  the  name  of 

Thomas  Grey,  knight,  of  Northumberland.  150 

Scroop.  Our  purposes  God  justly  hath  discover'd; 

And  I  repent  my  fault  more  than  my  death; 

Which  I  beseech  your  highness  to  forgive, 

Although  my  body  pay  the  price  of  it. 
Cam.  For  me,  the  gold  of  France  did  not  seduce; 

Although  I  did  admit  it  as  a  motive 

The  sooner  to  effect  what  I  intended: 

But  God  be  thanked  for  prevention; 

Which  I  in  sufferance  heartily  will  rejoice, 

Beseeching  God  and  you  to  pardon  me.  160 

Grey.  Never  did  faithful  subject  more  rejoice 

At  the  discovery  of  most  dangerous  treason 

Than  I  do  at  this  hour  joy  o'er  myself, 

Prevented  from  a  damned  enterprise: 

My  fault,  but  not  my  body,  pardon,  sovereign. 
K.  Hen.  God  quit  you  in  his  mercy  !    Hear  your  sentence. 

You  have  conspired  against  our  royal  person, 

49 


Act  II.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Join'd  with  an  enemy  proclaim'd,  and  from  his  coffers 

Received  the  golden  earnest  of  our  death; 

Wherein  you  would  have  sold  your  king  to  slaughter, 

His  princes  and  his  peers  to  servitude,  171 

His  subjects  to  oppression  and  contempt, 

And  his  whole  kingdom  into  desolation. 

Touching  our  person  seek  we  no  revenge; 

But  we  our  kingdom's  safety  must  so  tender, 

Whose  ruin  you  have  sought,  that  to  her  laws 

We  do  deliver  you.     Get  you  therefore  hence. 

Poor  miserable  wretches,  to  your  death : 

The  taste  whereof,  God  of  his  mercy  give 

You  patience  to  endure,  and  true  repentance       180 

Of  all  your  dear  offences!    Bear  them  hence. 

[E.reunt  Cambridge,  Scroop,  and  Grey,  guarded. 
Now,  lords,  for  France;  the  enterprise  whereof 
Shall  be  to  you,  as  us,  like  glorious. 
We  doubt  not  of  a  fair  and  lucky  war. 
Since  God  so  graciously  hath  brought  to  light 
This  dangerous  treason  lurking  in  our  way 
To  hinder  our  beginnings.     We  doubt  not  now 
But  every  rub  is  smoothed  on  our  way. 
Then  forth,  dear  countrymen:    let  us  deliver 
Our  puissance  into  the  hand  of  God,  190 

Putting  it  straight  in  expedition. 
Cheerly  to  sea;   the  signs  of  war  advance: 
No  king  of  England,  if  not  king  of  France.     [Exeunt. 


50 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  iii. 

Scene  III. 

London.     Before  a  tavern. 
Enter  Pistol,  Hostess,  Nyni,  Bardolph,  and  Boy. 

Host.   Prithee,   honey-sweet   husband,    let   me   bring 
thee  to  Staines. 

Pist.  No ;    for  my  manly  heart  doth  yearn. 

Bardolph,  be  blithe :  Nym,  rouse  thy  vaunting  veins  : 
Boy,  bristle  thy  courage  up ;  for  Falstafif  he  is  dead, 
And  we  must  yearn  therefore. 

Bard.  Would  I  were  with  him,  wheresome'er  he  is, 
either  in  heaven  or  in  hell ! 

Host.  Nay,  sure,  he  's  not  in  hell :    he  's  in  Arthur's 

bosom,  if  ever  man  went  to  Arthur's  bosom.  lo 
A'  made  a  finer  end  and  went  away  an  it  had 
been  any  christom  child;  a'  parted  even  just 
between  twelve  and  one,  even  at  the  turning  o' 
the  tide :  for  after  I  saw  him  fumble  with  the 
sheets,  and  play  with  flowers,  and  smile  upon  his 
fingers'  ends,  I  knew  there  was  but  one  way; 
for  his  nose  was  as  sharp  as  a  pen,  and  a' 
babbled  of  green  fields.  '  How  now.  Sir  John !  ' 
quoth  I :  '  what,  man !  be  o'  good  cheer.'  So 
a'  cried  out,  '  God,  God,  God !  '  three  or  four  20 
times.  Now  I,  to  comfort  him,  bid  him  a' 
should  not  think  of  God ;  I  hoped  there  was  no 
need  to  trouble  himself  with  any  such  thoughts 
yet.  So  a'  bade  me  lay  more  clothes  on  his  feet : 
I  put  my  hand  into  the  bed  and  felt  them,  and 
they  were  as  cold  as  any  stone ;  then  I  felt  to  his 
knees,  and  they  were  as  cold  as  any  stone,  and 
so  upward  and  upward,  and  all  was  as  cold  as 
any  stone. 

51 


Act  II.  Sc.  iii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Nym.  They  say  he  cried  out  of  sack. 

Host.  Ay,  that  a'  did.  30 

Bard.  And  of  women. 

Host.  Nay,  that  a'  did  not. 

Boy.  Yes,  that  a'  did ;  and  said  they  were  devils  in- 
carnate. 

Host.  A'  could  never  abide  carnation  ;  'twas  a  colour 
he  never  liked. 

Boy.  A'  said  once,  the  devil  would  have  him  about 
women. 

Host.  A'  did  in  some  sort,  indeed,  handle  women ; 

but  then  he  was  rheumatic,  and  talked  of  the     40 
whore  of  Babylon. 

Boy.  Do  you  not  remember,  a'  saw  a  flea  stick  upon 
Bardolph's  nose,  and  a'  said  it  was  a  black  soul 
burning-  in  hell-fire? 

Bard.  Well,  the  fuel  is  gone  that  maintained  that  fire : 
that 's  all  the  riches  I  got  in  his  service. 

Nym.  Shall  we  shog?  the  king  will  be  gone  from 
Southampton. 

Pist.  Come,  let 's  away.     My  love,  give  me  thy  lips. 

Look  to  my  chattels  and  my  movables :  50 

Let  senses  rule ;   the  word  is  '  Pitch  and  Pay  ' : 

Trust  none; 

For  oaths  are  straws,  men's  faiths  are  wafer-cakes 

And  hold-fast  is  the  only  dog,  my  duck : 

Therefore,  Caveto  be  thy  counsellor. 

Go,  clear  thy  crystals.     Yoke-fellows  in  arms, 

Let  us  to  France ;   like  horse-leeches,  my  boys. 

To  suck,  to  suck,  the  very  blood  to  suck ! 

Boy.  And  that 's  but  unwholesome  food,  they  say. 

Pist.  Touch  her  soft  mouth,  and  march.  60 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  iv. 

Bard.  Farewell,  hostess.  [Kissing  her. 

Nym.  I  cannot  kiss,  that  is  the  humour  of  it;    but, 

adieu. 
Pist.  Let  housewifery  appear  :  keep  close,  I  thee  command. 
Host.  Farewell;   adieu.  [Exeunt. 

Scene  IV. 

France.     The  King's  palace. 

Flourish.  Enter  the  French  King,  the  Dauphin,  the 
Dukes  of  Berri  and  Bretagne,  the  Constable,  and 
others. 

Fr.  King.  Thus  comes  the  English  with  full  power  upon  us  ; 
And  more  than  carefully  it  us  concerns 
To  answer  royally  in  our  defences. 
Therefore  the  Dukes  of  Berri  and  of  Bretagne, 
Of  Brabant  and  of  Orleans,  shall  make  forth, 
And  you.  Prince  Dauphin,  with  all  swift  dispatch. 
To  line  and  new  repair  our  towns  of  war 
With  men  of  courage  and  with  means  defendant ; 
For  England  his  approaches  makes  as  fierce 
As  waters  to  the  sucking  of  a  gulf.  lo 

It  fits  us  then  to  be  as  provident 
As  fear  may  teach  us  out  of  late  examples 
Left  by  the  fatal  and  neglected  English 
Upon  our  fields. 

Dau.  IMy  most  redoubted  father, 

It  is  most  meet  we  arm  us  'gainst  the  foe ; 
For  peace  itself  should  not  so  dull  a  kingdom, 
Though  war  nor  no  known  quarrel  were  in  question, 
But  that  defences,  musters,  preparations, 
Should  be  maintain'd,  assembled  and  collected, 
As  were  a  war  in  expectation.  20 

S3 


Act  II.  Sc.  iv.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Therefore,  I  say  'tis  meet  we  all  go  forth 

To  view  the  sick  and  feeble  parts  of  France : 

And  let  us  do  it  with  no  show  of  fear ; 

Xo,  with  no  more  than  if  we  heard  that  England 

Were  busied  with  a  Whitsun  morris-dance : 

For,  my  good  liege,  she  is  so  idly  king'd, 

Her  sceptre  so  fantastically  borne 

By  a  vain,  giddy,  shallow,  humorous  youth, 

That  fear  attends  her  not. 

Con.  O  peace,  Prince  Dauphin  ! 

You  are  too  much  mistaken  in  this  king:  30 

Question  your  grace  the  late  ambassadors, 
With  what  great  state  he  heard  their  embassy, 
How  well  supplied  with  noble  counsellors. 
How  modest  in  exception,  and  withal 
How  terrible  in  constant  resolution, 
And  you  shall  find  his  vanities  forespent 
Were  but  the  outside  of  the  Roman  Brutus, 
Covering  discretion  with  a  coat  of  folly ; 
As  gardeners  do  with  ordure  hide  those  roots 
That  shall  first  spring  and  be  most  delicate.  40 

Dan.  Well,  'tis  not  so,  my  lord  high  constable  ; 
But  though  we  think  it  so,  it  is  no  matter : 
In  cases  of  defence  'tis  best  to  weigh 
The  enemy  more  mighty  than  he  seems : 
So  the  proportions  of  defence  are  fill'd ; 
Which  of  a  weak  and  niggardly  projection 
Doth,  like  a  miser,  spoil  his  coat  with  scanting 
A  little  cloth. 

Fr.  King.  Think  we  King  Harry  strong ; 

And,  princes,  look  you  strongly  arm  to  meet  him 
The  kindred  of  him  hath  been  flesh'd  upon  us ;        50 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  iv. 

And  he  is  bred  out  of  that  bloody  strain 

That  haunted  us  in  our  famiUar  paths : 

Witness  our  too  much  memorable  shame 

When  Cressy  battle  fatally  was  struck, 

And  all  our  princes  captived  by  the  hand 

Of  that  black  name,  Edward,  Black  Prince  of  Wales  ; 

Whiles  that  his  mountain  sire,  on  mountain  standing, 

Up  in  the  air,  crown'd  with  the  golden  sun, 

Saw  his  heroical  seed,  and  smiled  to  see  him, 

Mangle  the  work  of  nature,  and  deface  60 

The  patterns  that  by  God  and  by  French  fathers 

Had  twenty  years  been  made.     This  is  a  stem 

Of  that  victorious  stock;   and  let  us  fear 

The  native  mightiness  and  fate  of  him. 

Enter  a  Messenger. 

Mess.  Ambassadors  from  Harry  King  of  England 

Do  crave  admittance  to  your  majesty. 
Fr.  King.  We  '11  give  them  present  audience.     Go,   and 
bring  them. 

[Exeunt  Messenger  and  certain  Lords. 
You  see  this  chase  is  hotly  follow'd,  friends. 
Dan.  Turn  head,  and  stop  pursuit ;   for  coward  dogs 

Most  spend  their  mouths  when  what  they  seem  to 
threaten  70 

Runs  far  before  them.     Good  my  sovereign, 
Take  up  the  English  short,  and  let  them  know 
Of  what  a  monarchy  you  are  the  head : 
Self-love,  my  liege,  is  not  so  vile  a  sin 
As  self-neglecting. 

Re-enter  Lords,  with  Exeter  and  train. 
Fr,  King.  From  our  brother  England? 

55 


Act  II.  Sc.  iv.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Exe.  From  him  ;  and  thus  he  greets  your  majesty. 
He  wills  you,  in  the  name  of  God  Almighty, 
That  you  divest  yourself,  and  lay  apart 
The  borrowed  glories  that  by  gift  of  heaven, 
By  law  of  nature  and  of  nations,  'long  80 

To  him  and  to  his  heirs ;  namely,  the  crown 
And  all  wide-stretched  honours  that  pertain 
By  custom  and  the  ordinance  of  times 
Unto  the  crown  of  France.     That  you  may  know 
'Tis  no  sinister  nor  no  awkward  claim, 
Pick'd  from  the  worm-holes  of  long-vanish'd  days, 
Nor  from  the  dust  of  old  oblivion  raked. 
He  sends  you  this  most  memorable  line, 
In  every  branch  truly  demonstrative; 
Willing  you  overlook  this  pedigree :  90 

And  when  you  find  him  evenly  derived 
From  his  most  famed  of  famous  ancestors, 
Edward  the  third,  he  bids  you  then  resign 
Your  crown  and  kingdom,  indirectly  held 
From  him  the  native  and  true  challenger. 

Fr.  King.  Or  else  what  follows  ? 

Ea'C.  Bloody  constraint ;   for  if  you  hide  the  crown 
Even  in  your  hearts,  there  will  he  rake  for  it: 
Therefore  in  fierce  tempest  is  he  coming. 
In  thunder  and  in  earthquake,  like  a  Jove,  100 

That,  if  requiring  fail,  he  will  compel ; 
And  bids  you,  in  the  bowels  of  the  Lord, 
Deliver  up  the  crown,  and  to  take  mercy 
On  the  poor  souls  for  whom  this  hungry  war 
Opens  his  vasty  jaws ;   and  on  your  head 
Turning  the  widows'  tears,  the  orphans'  cries. 
The  dead  men's  blood,  the  pining  maidens'  groans, 

56 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  II.  Sc.  iv. 

For  husbands,  fathers  and  betrothed  lovers, 

That  shall  be  swallow'd  in  this  controversy. 

This  is  his  claim,  his  threatening,  and  my  message; 

Unless  the  Dauphin  be  in  presence  here,  iii 

To  whom  expressly  I  bring  greeting  too. 

Fr.  King.  For  us,  we  will  consider  of  this  further : 
To-morrow  shall  you  bear  our  full  intent 
Back  to  our  brother  England. 

Dau.  For  the  Dauphin, 

I  stand  here  for  him:  what  to  him  from  England? 

Exe.  Scorn  and  defiance ;   slight  regard,  contempt. 
And  any  thing  that  may  not  misbecome 
The  mighty  sender,  doth  he  prize  you  at. 
Thus  says  my  king;  an  if  your  father's  highness  120 
Do  not,  in  grant  of  all  demands  at  large, 
Sweeten  the  bitter  mock  you  sent  his  majesty, 
He  '11  call  you  to  so  hot  an  answer  of  it, 
That  caves  and  womby  vaultages  of  France 
Shall  chide  your  trespass,  and  return  your  mock 
In  second  accent  of  his  ordnance. 

Dan.  Say,  if  my  father  render  fair  return. 
It  is  against  my  will;    for  I  desire 
Nothing  but  odds  with  England :    to  that  end, 
As  matching  to  his  youth  and  vanity,  130 

I  did  present  him  with  the  Paris  balls. 

Exe.  He  '11  make  your  Paris  Louvre  shake  for  it. 
Were  it  the  mistress-court  of  mighty  Europe: 
And,  be  assured,  you  '11  find  a  difference. 
As  we  his  subjects  have  in  wonder  found. 
Between  the  promise  of  his  greener  days 
And  these  he  masters  now:   now  he  weighs  time 
Even  to  the  utmost  grain  ;   that  you  shall  read 

57 


Act  III.  Prologue.  THE  LIFE  OF 

In  your  own  losses,  if  he  stay  in  France. 
Fr.  King.  To-morrow  shall  you  know  our  mind  at  full. 
Exe.  Dispatch  us  with  all  speed,  lest  that  our  king      141 

Come  here  himself  to  question  our  delay ; 

For  he  is  footed  in  this  land  already. 
Fr.King.  You  shall  be  soon  dispatch'd  with  fair  conditions : 

A  night  is  but  small  breath  and  little  pause 

To  answer  matters  0/  this  consequence. 

[Flourish.     Exeunt. 

ACT  THIRD. 
Prologue. 

Enter  Chorus. 

Char.  Thus  with  imagined  wing  our  swift  scene  flies 
In  motion  of  no  less  celerity 

Than  that  of  thought.     Suppose  that  you  have  seen 
The  well-appointed  king  at  Hampton  pier 
Embark  his  royalty;   and  his  brave  fleet 
With  silken  streamers  the  young  Phoebus  fanning: 
Play  with  your  fancies,  and  in  them  behold 
Upon  the  hempen  tackle  ship-boys  climbing; 
Hear  the  shrill  whistle  which  doth  order  give 
To  sounds  confused  ;   behold  the  threaden  sails,      10 
Borne  with  the  invisible  and  creeping  wind. 
Draw  the  huge  bottoms  through  the  furrow'd  sea, 
Breasting  the  lofty  surge:    O,  do  but  think 
You  stand  upon  the  rivage  and  behold 
A  city  on  the  inconstant  billows  dancing; 
For  so  appears  this  fleet  majestical, 
Holding  due  course  to  Harfleur.     Follow,  follow : 

58 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  i. 

Grapple  your  minds  to  sternage  of  this  navy, 
And  leave  your  England,  as  dead  midnight  still, 
Guarded  with  grandsires,  babies  and  old  women,  20 
Either  past  or  not  arrived  to  pith  and  puissance; 
Eor  who  is  he,  whose  chin  is  but  enrich'd 
With  one  appearing  hair,  that  will  not  follow 
These  cuU'd  and  choice-drawn  cavaUers  to  France  ? 
Work,  work  your  thoughts,  and  therein  see  a  siege; 
Behold  the  ordnance  on  their  carriages. 
With  fatal  mouths  gaping  on  girded  Harfleur. 
Suppose  the  ambassador  from  the  French  comes  back  ; 
Tells  Harry  that  the  king  doth  offer  him 
Katharine  his  daughter,  and  with  her,  to  dowry,     30 
Some  petty  and  unprofitable  dukedoms. 
The  offer  likes  not:   and  the  nimble  gunner 
With  linstock  now  the  devilish  cannon  touches, 

[Alarum,  and  chambers  go  off. 
And  down  goes  all  before  them.     Still  be  kind. 
And  eke  out  our  performance  with  your  mind. 

[Exit. 

Scene  I. 

France.     Before  Harfleur. 

Alarum.     Enter  King  Henry,  Exeter,  Bedford,  Glou- 
cester, and  Soldiers,  zvith  scaling-ladders. 

K.  Hen.  Once  more  unto  the  breach,  dear  friends,  once 
more; 
Or  close  the  wall  up  with  our  EngUsh  dead. 
In  peace  there  's  nothing  so  becomes  a  man 
As  modest  stillness  and  humility: 
But  when  the  blast  of  war  blows  in  our  ears, 

59 


Actlll.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Then  imitate  the  action  of  the  tiger ; 

Stiffen  the  sinews,  summon  up  the  blood, 

Disguise  fair  nature  with  hard-favour'd  rage; 

Then  lend  the  eye  a  terrible  aspect; 

Let  it  pry  through  the  portage  of  the  head  lo 

Like  the  brass  cannon;   let  the  brow  o'erwhelm  it 

As  fearfully  as  doth  a  galled  rock 

O'erhang  and  jutty  his  confounded  base, 

Swill'd  with  the  wild  and  wasteful  ocean. 

Now  set  the  teeth  and  stretch  the  nostril  wide, 

Hold  hard  the  breath  and  bend  up  every  spirit 

To  his  full  height.     On,  on,  you  noblest  English, 

Whose  blood  is  fet  from  fathers  of  war-proof! 

Fathers  that,  like  so  many  Alexanders, 

Have  in  these  parts  from  morn  till  even  fought,  20 

And  sheathed  their  swords  for  lack  of  argument: 

Dishonour  not  your  mothers;    now  attest 

That  those  whom  you  call'd  fathers  did  beget  you. 

Be  copy  now  to  men  of  grosser  blood. 

And  teach  them  how  to  war.   And  you,  good  yeomen. 

Whose  limbs  were  made  in  England,  show  us  here 

The  mettle  of  your  pasture;   let  us  swear 

That  you  are  worth  your  breeding;    which  I  doubt 

not; 
For  there  is  none  of  you  so  mean  and  base, 
That  hath  not  noble  lustre  in  your  eyes.  30 

I  see  you  stand  like  greyhounds  in  the  slips. 
Straining  upon  the  start.     The  game  's  afoot, 
Follow  your  spirit,  and  upon  this  charge 
Cry  '  God  for  Harry,  England,  and  Saint  George!  ' 
\^Exeunt.     Alarum,  and  chambers  go  off. 


60 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  ii. 

Scene  II. 

The  same. 
Enter  Nxdi,  Bardolph,  Pistol,  and  Boy. 

Bard.  On,    on,   on,   on,   on !    to  the  breach,    to   the 

breach ! 
Nym.  Pray  thee,  corporal,  stay :   the  knocks  are  too 

hot ;   and,  for  mine  own  part,  I  have  not  a  case 

of  Hves :   the  humour  of  it  is  too  hot,  that  is  the 

very  plain-song  of  it. 
Pisf.  The  plain-song-  is  most  just ;  for  humours  do  abound  : 

Knocks  go  and  come ;   God's  vassals  drop  and  die ; 
And  sword  and  shield, 
In  bloody  field,  lo 

Doth  win  immortal  fame. 

Boy.  W^ould  I  were  in  an  alehouse  in  London !     I 
would  give  all  my  fame  for  a  pot  of  ale  and  safety. 

Pist.  And  I : 

If  wishes  would  prevail  with  me, 
My  purpose  should  not  fail  with  me, 
But  thither  would  I  hie. 

Boy.         As  duly,  but  not  as  truly. 

As  bird  doth  sing  on  bough. 

Enter  Fluellen. 

Flu.  Up  to  the  breach,  you  dogs !    avaunt,  you  cul-     20 
lions  !  [Driving  them  forzvard. 

Pist.  Be  merciful,  great  duke,  to  men  of  mould. 
Abate  thy  rage,  abate  thy  manly  rage, 
Abate  thy  rage,  great  duke ! 

61 


Act  III.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Good   bawcock,    bate    thy    rage ;     use    lenity,    sweet 
chuck ! 

Nym.  These  be  good  humours !    your  honour  wins 

bad  humours.  [Exeunt  all  hut  Boy, 

Boy.  As  young  as  I  am,  I  have  observed  these  three 
swashers.  I  am  boy  to  them  all  three :  but  all 
they  three,  though  they  would  serve  me,  could  30 
not  be  man  to  me ;  for  indeed  three  such  antics 
do  not  amount  to  a  man.  For  Bardolph,  he  is 
white-livered  and  red-faced ;  by  the  means 
whereof  a'  faces  it  out,  but  fights  not.  For 
Pistol,  he  hath  a  killing  tongue  and  a  quiet 
sword ;  by  the  means  whereof  a'  breaks  words, 
and  keeps  whole  weapons.  For  Nym,  he  hath 
heard  that  men  of  few  words  are  the  best  men ; 
and  therefore  he  scorns  to  say  his  prayers,  lest 
a'  should  be  thought  a  coward  :  but  his  few  bad  40 
words  are  matched  with  as  few  good  deeds :  for 
a'  never  broke  any  man's  head  but  his  own,  and 
that  was  against  a  post  when  he  was  drunk. 
They  will  steal  any  thing,  and  call  it  purchase. 
Bardolph  stole  a  lute-case,  bore  it  twelve  leagues, 
and  sold  it  for  three  half-pence.  Nvm  and 
Bardolph  are  sworn  brothers  in  filching,  and  in 
Calais  they  stole  a  fire-shovel :  I  knew  by  that 
piece  of  service  the  men  would  carry  coals. 
They  would  have  me  as  familiar  with  men's  50 
pockets  as  their  gloves  or  their  handkerchers : 
which  makes  mucb  against  my  manhood,  if  I 
should  take  from  another's  pocket  to  put  into 
mine ;  for  it  is  plain  pocketing  up  of  wrongs. 
I  must  leave  them,  and  seek  some  better  service: 
62 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  ii. 

their  villany  goes  against  my  weak  stomach,  and 
therefore  I  must  cast  it  up.  [Exit, 

Re-enter  Fhiellen,  Goiver  following. 

Gozi'.  Captain  Fkiellen,  you  must  come  presently  to 
the  mines ;  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  would  speak 
with  you.  60 

Flu.  To  the  mines !  tell  you  the  duke,  it  is  not  so 
good  to  come  to  the  mines ;  for,  look  you,  the 
mines  is  not  according  to  the  disciplines  of  the 
war :  the  concavities  of  it  is  not  sufficient ;  for, 
look  you,  th'  athversary,  you  may  discuss  unto 
the  duke,  look  you,  is  digt  himself  four  yard 
under  the  countermines :  by  Cheshu,  I  think  a' 
will  plow  up  all,  if  there  is  not  better  directions. 

Gozv.  The  Duke  of  Gloucester,  to  whom  the  order 

of  the  siege  is  given,  is  altogether  directed  by     70 
an  Irishman,  a  very  valiant  gentleman,  i'  faith. 

Flu.  It  is  Captain  Macmorris,  is  it  not? 

Gozi'.  I  think  it  be. 

Flu.  By  Cheshu,  he  is  an  ass,  as  in  the  world :  I 
will  verify  as  much  in  his  beard  :  he  has  no  more 
directions  in  the  true  disciplines  of  the  wars, 
look  you,  of  the  Roman  disciplines,  than  is  a 
puppy-dog. 

Enter  Maenwrris  and  Captain  Janiy. 

Gow.  Here  a'  comes  ;   and  the  Scots  captain,  Captain 

Jamy,  with  him.  80 

Flu.  Captain  Jamy  is  a  marvellous  falorous  gentle 
man,  that  is  certain;    and  of  great  expedition 
and  knowledge  in  th'  aunchient  wars,  upon  my 


Actlll.Sc.ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

particular  knowledge  of  his  directions :  by  Che- 
shu,  he  will  maintain  his  argument  as  well  as 
any  military  man  in  the  world,  in  the  disciplines 
of  the  pristine  wars  of  the  Romans. 

J  amy.  I  say  gud-day,  Captain  Fluellen. 

Flu.  God-den  to  your  worship,  good  Captain  James. 

Gow.  How  now,  Captain  Macmorris !   have  you  quit     90 
the  mines?   have  the  pioners  given  o'er? 

Mac.  By  Chrish,  la  !  tish  ill  done :  the  work  ish  give 
over,  the  trompet  sound  the  retreat.  By  my 
hand,  I  swear,  and  my  father's  soul,  the  work  ish 
ill  done ;  it  ish  give  over :  I  would  have  blowed 
up  the  town,  so  Chrish  save  me,  la !  in  an  hour : 
O,  tish  ill  done,  tish  ill  done ;  by  my  hand,  tish 
ill  done! 

Flu.  Captain   Macmorris,   I  beseech  you  now,   will 

you  voutsafe  me,  look  you,  a  few  disputations  100 
with  you,  as  partly  touching  or  concerning  the 
disciplines  of  the  war,  the  Roman  wars,  in  the 
way  of  argument,  look  you,  and  friendly  com- 
munication ;  partly  to  satisfy  my  opinion,  and 
partly  for  the  satisfaction,  look  you,  of  my 
mind,  as  touching  the  direction  of  the  military 
discipline ;    that  is  the  point. 

Jamy.  It  sail  be  vary  gud,  gud  feith,  gud  captains 
bath  :  and  I  sail  quit  you  with  gud  leve,  as  I 
may  pick  occasion;   that  sail  I,  marry.  no 

Mac.  It  is  no  time  to  discourse,  so  Chrish  save  me : 
the  day  is  hot,  and  the  weather,  and  the  wars, 
and  the  king,  and  the  dukes :  it  is  no  time  to 
discourse.  The  town  is  beseeched,  and  the 
trumpet  call  us  to  the  breach ;  and  we  talk, 
64 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  ii. 

and,  be  Chrish,  do  nothing;  'tis  shame  for  us 
all :  so  God  sa'  me,  'tis  shame  to  stand  still ;  it 
is  shame,  by  my  hand:  and  there  is  throats  to 
be  cut,  and  works  to  be  done;  and  there  ish 
nothing  done,  so  Chrish  sa'  me,  la!  120 

J  amy.  By  the  mess,  ere  theise  eyes  of  mine  take 
themselves  to  slomber,  ay  'U  de  gud  service,  or 
ay  '11  lig  i'  the  grund  for  it ;  ay,  or  go  to  death ; 
and  ay '11  pay 't  as  valorously  as  I  may,  that 
sail  I  suerly  do,  that  is  the  breff  and  the  long. 
Marry,  I  wad  full  fain  hear  some  question  'tween 
you  tway. 

Flu.  Captain  Macmorris,  I  think,  look  you,  under 
your  correction,  there  is  not  many  of  your  na- 
tion— 130 

Mac.  Of  my  nation!  What  ish  my  nation?  Ish  a 
villain,  and  a  bastard,  and  a  knave,  and  a  rascal. 
What  ish  my  nation  ?     Wlio  talks  of  my  nation  ? 

Flu.  Look  you,  if  you  take  the  matter  otherwise  than 
is  meant,  Captain  Macmorris,  peradventure  I 
shall  think  you  do  not  use  me  with  that  affabil- 
ity as  in  discretion  you  ought  to  use  me,  look 
you ;  being  as  good  a  man  as  yourself,  both  in 
the  disciplines  of  war,  and  in  the  derivation  of  140 
my  birth,  and  in  other  particularities. 

Mac.  I  do  not  know  you  so  good  a  man  as  myself : 
so  Chrish  save  me,  I  will  cut  oiif  your  head. 

Gow.  Gentlemen  both,  you  will  mistake  each  other. 

J  amy.  A !  that 's  a  foul  fault. 

[A  parley  sounded^ 

Gow.  The  town  sounds  a  parley. 

65 


Act  III.  Sc.  iii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Flu.  Captain  Macmorris,  when  there  is  more  better 
opportunity  to  be  required  look  you,  I  will  be 
so  bold  as  to  tell  you  I  know  the  disciplines  of 
war;  and  there  is  an  end.  [Exeunt.   150 

Scene  III. 

The  same.     Before  the  gates. 

The  Governor  and  some  Citizens  on  the  zvalls;  the 

English  forces  below.     Enter  King 

Henry  and  his  train. 

K.Hen.  How  yet  resolves  the  governor  of  the  town? 
This  is  the  latest  parle  we  will  admit : 
Therefore  to  our  best  mercy  give  yourselves ; 
Or  like  to  men  proud  of  destruction 
Defy  us  to  our  worst :   for,  as  I  am  a  soldier, 
A  name  that  in  my  thoughts  becomes  me  best, 
If  I  begin  the  battery  once  again, 
I  will  not  leave  the  half-achieved  Harfleur 
Till  in  her  ashes  she  lie  buried. 

The  gates  of  mercy  shall  be  all  shut  up,         ,  10 

And  the  flesh'd  soldier,  rough  and  hard  of  heart. 
In  liberty  of  bloody  hand  shall  range 
With  conscience  wide  as  hell,  mowing  like  grass 
Your  fresh-fair  virgins  and  your  flowering  infants. 
What  is  it  then  to  me,  if  impious  war, 
Array'd  in  flames  like  to  the  prince  of  fiends. 
Do,  with  his  smirch'd  complexion,  all  fell  feats 
Enlink'd  to  waste  and  desolation  ? 
What  is  't  to  me,  when  you  yourselves  are  cause, 
If  your  pure  maidens  fall  into  the  hand  20 

Of  hot  and  forcing;-  violation? 
.What  rein  can  hold  licentious  wickedness 

66 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  iii. 

When  down  the  hill  he  holds  his  fierce  career  ? 

We  may  as  bootless  spend  our  vain  command 

Upon  the  enraged  soldiers  in  their  spoil 

As  send  precepts  to  the  leviathan 

To  come  ashore.     Therefore,  you  men  of  Harfleur, 

Take  pity  of  your  town  and  of  your  people, 

Whiles  yet  my  soldiers  are  in  my  command ; 

Whiles  yet  the  cool  and  temperate  wind  of  grace     30 

O'erblows  the  filthy  and  contagious  clouds 

Of  heady  murder,  spoil  and  villany. 

If  not,  why,  in  a  moment  look  to  see 

The  blind  and  bloody  soldier  with  foul  hand 

Defile  the  locks  of  your  shrill-shrieking  daughters ; 

Your  fathers  taken  by  the  silver  beards, 

And  their  most  reverend  heads  dash'd  to  the  walls. 

Your  naked  infants  spitted  upon  pikes, 

W^hiles  the  mad  mothers  with  their  howls  confused 

Do  break  the  clouds,  as  did  the  wives  of  Jewry      40 

At  Herod's  bloody-hunting  slaughtermen. 

What  say  you  ?  will  you  yield,  and  this  avoid. 

Or,  guilty  in  defence,  be  thus  destroy'd? 

Gov.  Our  expectation  hath  this  day  an  end : 

The  Dauphin,  whom  of  succours  we  entreated. 

Returns  us  that  his  powers  are  yet  not  ready 

To  raise  so  great  a  siege.     Therefore,  great  king. 

We  yield  our  town  and  lives  to  thy  soft  mercy. 

Enter  our  gates ;    dispose  of  us  and  ours  ; 

For  we  no  longer  are  defensible.  50 

K.  Hen.  Open  your  gates.     Come,  uncle  Exeter, 
Go  you  and  enter  Harfleur ;   there  remain. 
And  fortify  it  strongly  'gainst  the  French : 
Use  mercy  to  them  all.     For  us,  dear  uncle, 

67 


Act  III.  Sc.  iv.  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  winter  coming  on,  and  sickness  growing 
Upon  our  soldiers,  we  will  retire  to  Calais. 
To-night  in  Harfleur  will  we  be  your  guest ; 
To-morrow  for  the  march  are  we  addrest. 
[Flourish.     The  King  and  his  train  enter  the  tozvn. 

Scene  IV. 

The  French  King's  palaee. 
Enter  Katharine  and  Alice. 

Kath.  Alice,  tu  as  ete  en  Angleterre,  et  tu  paries  bien 
le  langage. 

Alice.  Un  pen,  madame. 

Kath.  Je  te  prie,  m'enseignez  ;  il  faut  que  j'apprenne 
a  parler.  Comment  appelez-vous  la  main  en 
Anglois  ? 

Alice.  La  main?   elle  est  appelee  de  hand. 

Kath.  De  hand.     Et  les  doigts? 

Alice.  Les  doigts?   ma  foi,  j'oublie  les  doigts;    mais 

je  me  souviendrai.     Les  doigts?    je  pense  qu'ils     lo 
sont  appeles  de  fingres  ;  oui,  de  fingres. 

Kath.  La  main,  de  hand ;  les  doigts,  de  fingres.  Je 
pense  que  je  suis  le  bon  ecolier ;  j'ai  gagne  deux 
mots  d' Anglois  vitement.  Comment  appelez- 
vous  les  ongles? 

Alice.  Les  ongles?  nous  les  appelons  de  nails. 

Kath.  De  nails.  Ecoutez  ;  dites-moi,  si  je  parle  bien  : 
de  hand,  de  fingres,  et  de  nails. 

Alice.  C'est  bien  dit,  madame  ;  il  est  fort  bon  Anglois. 

Kath.  Dites-moi  I'Anglois  pour  le  bras.  20 

Alice.  De  arm,  madame. 

Kath,  Et  le  coudc. 

68 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  iv. 

Alice.  Dc  elbow. 

Kath.  De  elbow.     Je  m'en  fais  la  repetition  de  tous 

les  mots  que  vous  m'avez  appris  des  a  present. 
Alice.  II  est  trop  difficile,  madame,  conime  je  pense. 
Kath.  Excusez-moi,   Alice ;     ecoutez :     de   hand,  de 

fingres,  de  nails,  de  arma,  de  bilbow. 
Alice.  De  elbow,  madame. 
Kath.  O  Seigneur  Dieu,  je  m'en  oublie !   de  elbow.        30 

Comment  appelez-vous  le  col? 
Alice.  De  neck,  madame. 
Kath.  De  nick.     Et  le  menton? 
Alice.  De  chin. 

Kath.  De  sin.     Le  col,  de  nick ;   le  menton,  de  sin. 
Alice.  Oui.     Sauf    votre    honneur,    en    verite,    vous 

prononcez   les   mots   aussi   droit   que   les   natifs 

d'Angleterre. 
Kath.  Je  ne  doute  point  d'apprendre,  par  la  grace  de 

Dieu,  et  en  pen  de  temps.  40 

Alice.  N'avez  vous  pas  deja  oublie  ce  que  je  vous  ai 

enseigne  ? 
Kath.  Non,   je    reciterai   a   vous   promptement :    de 

hand,  de  fingres,  de  nails, — 
Alice.  De  nails,  madame. 
Kath.  De  nails,  de  arm,  de  ilbow. 
Alice.  Sauf  votre  honneur,  dc  elbow. 
Kath.  Ainsi  dis-je;   de  elbow,  de  nick,  et  de  sin. 

Comment  appelez-vous  le  pied  et  la  robe? 
Alice.  De  foot,  madame ;   et  de  coun.  50 

Kath.  De  foot  et  de  coun !     O  Seigneur  Dieu !    ce 

sont  mots  de  son  mauvais,  corruptible,  gros,  et 

impudique,   et   non   pour   les    dames    d 'honneur 

d'user:    je  ne  voudrais  prononcer  ces  mots  de- 

69 


Act  III.  Sc.  V.  THE  LIFE  OF 

vant  les  seigneurs  de  France  pour  tout  le  monde. 
Foh !  le  foot  et  le  coun !  Neanmoins,  je  reci- 
terai  une  autre  fois  ma  legon  ensemble :  de  hand, 
de  fingres,  de  nails,  de  arm,  de  elbow,  de  nick, 
de  sin,  de  foot,  de  coun. 
Alice.  Excellent,  madame!  60 

Kath.  C'est  assez  pour  une  fois :   allons-nous  a  diner. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene  V. 

The  same. 

Enter  the  King  of  France,  the  Dauphin,  the  Duke  of 
Bourbon,  the  Constable  of  France,  and  others. 

Fr.  King.   'Tis  certain  he  hath  pass'd  the  river  Somme. 

Con.  And  if  he  be  not  fought  withal,  my  lord. 
Let  us  not  live  in  France ;   let  us  quit  all, 
And  give  our  vineyards  to  a  barbarous  people. 

Dan.  O  Dieu  vivant !   shall  a  few  sprays  of  us. 
The  emptying  of  our  fathers'  luxury, 
Our  scions,  put  in  wild  and  savage  stock, 
Spirt  up  so  suddenly  into  the  clouds. 
And  overlook  their  grafters? 

Bour.  Normans,  but  bastard  Normans,  Norman  bastards  ! 
Mortdemavie!   if  they  march  along  11 

Unfought  withal,  but  I  will  sell  my  dukedom, 
To  buy  a  slobbery  and  a  dirty  farm 
In  that  nook-shotten  isle  of  Albion. 

Con.  Dieu  de  batailles !    where  have  they  this  mettle? 
Is  not  their  climate  foggy,  raw  and  dull. 
On  whom,  as  in  despite,  the  sun  looks  pale. 
Killing  their  fruit  with  frowns  ?     Can  sodden  water, 
A  drench  for  sur-rein'd  jades,  their  barley-broth, 

70 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  v. 

Decoct  their  cold  blood  to  such  valiant  heat  ?  20 

And  shall  our  quick  blood,  spirited  with  wine, 

Seem  frosty?     O,  for  honour  of  our  land, 

Let  us  not  hang  like  roping  icicles 

Upon  our  houses'  thatch,  whiles  a  more  frosty  people 

Sweat  drops  of  gallant  youth  in  our  rich  fields  !— 

Poor  we  may  call  them  in  their  native  lords. 

Dan.  By  faith  and  honour, 

Our  madams  mock  at  us,  and  plainly  say 

Our  mettle  is  bred  out,  and  they  will  give 

Their  bodies  to  the  lust  of  English  youth,  30 

To  new-store  France  with  bastard  warriors. 

Bour.  They  bid  us  to  the  English  dancing-schools, 
And  teach  lavoltas  high  and  swift  corantos ; 
Saying  our  grace  is  only  in  our  heels, 
And  that  we  are  most  lofty  runaways. 

Fr.  King.  Where  is  Montjoy  the  herald?  speed  him  hence  : 
Let  him  greet  England  with  our  sharp  defiance. 
Up,  princes !   and,  with  spirit  of  honour  edged 
More  sharper  than  your  swords,  hie  to  the  field : 
Charles  Delabreth,  high  constable  of  France ;  ^         40 
You  Dukes  of  Orleans,  Bourbon,  and  of  Berri, 
Alengon,  Brabant,  Bar,  and  Burgundy ; 
Jaques  Chatillon,  Rambures,  Vaudemont, 
Beaumont,  Grandpre,  Roussi,  and  Fauconberg, 
Foix,  Lestrale,  Bouciqualt,  and  Charolois ; 
High  dukes,  great  princes,  barons,  lords  and  knights, 
For  your  great  seats  now  quit  you  of  great  shames. 
Bar  Harry  England,  that  sweeps  through  our  land 
With  pennons  painted  in  the  blood  of  Harfleur : 
Rush  on  his  host,  as  doth  the  melted  snow  50 

Upon  the  valleys,  whose  low  vassal  seat 

71 


Act  III.  Sc.  vi.  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  Alps  doth  spit  and  void  his  rheum  upon : 
Go  down  upon  him,  you  have  power  enough, 
And  in  a  captive  chariot  into  Rouen 
Bring  him  our  prisoner. 

Con.  This  becomes  the  great. 

Sorry  am  I  his  numbers  are  so  few, 
His  soldiers  sick  and  famish'd  in  their  march. 
For  I  am  sure,  when  he  shall  see  our  army. 
He  '11  drop  his  heart  into  the  sink  of  fear 
And  for  achievement  offer  us  his  ransom.  60 

Fr.  King,  Therefore,  lord  constable,  haste  on  Mont  joy, 
And  let  him  say  to  England  that  we  send 
To  know  what  walling  ransom  he  will  give. 
Prince  Dauphin,  you  shall  stay  with  us  in  Rouen. 

Daii.  Not  so,  I  do  beseech  your  majesty. 

Fr.  King.  Be  patient,  for  you  shall  remain  with  us. 
Now  forth,  lord  constable  and  princes  all, 
And  quickly  bring  us  word  of  England's  fall. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene  VI. 

The  EngVisli  camp  in  Picardy. 
Enter  Gozver  and  Fluellcn,  meeting. 

Gozv.  How  now,  Captain  Fluellen!    come  you  from 

the  bridge? 
Flu.  I   assure  you,  there  is  very  excellent  services 

committed  at  the  bridge. 
Gozv.  Is  the  Duke  of  Exeter  safe  ? 
Fin.  The   Duke   of   Exeter   is   as    magnanimous   as 

Agamemnon  ;  and  a  man  that  I  love  and  henour 

with  my  soul,  and  my  heart,  and  my  duty,  and 
72 


KING  HENRY  V,  Act  III.  Sc.  vi. 

my  life,  and  my  living,  and  my  uttermost  power : 
he  is  not — God  be  praised  and  blessed! — any  lo 
hurt  in  the  world;  but  keeps  the  bridge  most 
valiantly,  with  excellent  discipline.  There  is  an 
aunchient  lieutenant  there  at  the  pridge,  I  think 
in  my  very  conscience  he  is  as  valiant  a  man  as 
Mark  Antonv ;  and  he  is  a  man  of  no  estimation 
in  the  world;  but  I  did  see  him  do  as  gallant 
service. 

Gozv.  What  do  you  call  him  ? 

Flu.  He  is  called  Aunchient  Pistol. 

Gozi'.   I  know^  him  not.  20 

Enter  Pistol. 

Flu.  Here  is  the  man. 

Pist.  Captain,  I  thee  beseech  to  do  me  favours : 
The  Duke  of  Exeter  doth  love  thee  well. 

Flu.  Ay,  I  praise  God  ;  and  I  have  merited  some  love 
at  his  hands. 

Pist.  Bardolph,  a  soldier,  firm  and  sound  of  heart, 
And  of  buxom  valour,  hath,  by  cruel  fate, 
And  giddy  Fortune's  furious  fickle  wdieel. 
That  goddess  blind. 
That  stands  upon  the  rolling  restless  stone —  30 

Flu.  By  your  patience,  Aunchient  Pistol.  Fortune 
is  painted  blind,  with  a  muffler  afore  her  eyes, 
to  signify  to  you  that  Fortune  is  blind ;  and  she 
is  painted  also  with  a  wheel,  to  signify  to  you, 
which  is  the  moral  of  it,  that  she  is  turning,  and 
inconstant,  and  mutability,  and  variation:  and 
her  foot,  look  you,  is  fixed  upon  a  spherical 
stone,  which  rolls,  and  rolls,  and  rolls:    in  good 

73 


Act  III.  Sc.  vi.  THE  LIFE  OF 

truth,  the  poet  makes  a  most  excellent  descrip- 
tion of  it :   Fortune  is  an  excellent  moral.  40 

Pist.  Fortune  is  Bardolph's  foe,  and  frowns  on  him  ; 
For  he  hath  stolen  a  pax,  and  hanged  must  a'  be : 
A  damned  death ! 

Let  gallows  gape  for  dog ;    let  man  go  free 
And  let  not  hemp  his  wind-pipe  suffocate : 
But  Exeter  hath  given  the  doom  of  death 
For  pax  of  little  price. 

Therefore,  go  speak  ;  the  duke  will  hear  thy  voice  ; 
And  let  not  Bardolph's  vital  thread  be  cut 
With  edge  of  penny  cord  and  vile  reproach :  50 

Speak,  captain,  for  his  life,  and  I  will  thee  requite. 

Flu.  Aunchient  Pistol,  I  do  partly  understand  your 
meaning. 

Pist.  Why  then,  rejoice  therefore. 

Fill.  Certainly,  aunchient,  it  is  not  a  thing  to  rejoice 
at :  for  if,  look  you,  he  were  my  brother,  I  would 
desire  the  duke  to  use  his  good  pleasure,  and  put 
him  to  execution  ;  for  discipline  ought  to  be  used. 

Pist.  Die  and  be  damn'd  !  and  figo  for  thy  friendship  ! 

Fin.  It  is  well.  60 

Pist.  The  fig  of  Spain !  [Fxit. 

Flu.  Very  good. 

Gow.  Why,  this  is  an  arrant  counterfeit  rascal; 
r  remember  him  now ;  a  bawd,  a  cutpurse. 

Flu.  I  '11  assure  you,  a'  uttered  as  brave  words  at  the 
pridge  as  you  shall  see  in  a  summer's  day.  But 
it  is  very  well ;  wdiat  he  has  spoke  to  me,  that  is 
well,  I  warrant  you,  when  time  is  serve. 

Gozi'.  Why,  'tis  a  gull,  a  fool,  a  rogue,  that  now  and 

then  goes  to  the  wars,  to  grace  himself  at  his     70 

74 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  vi. 

return  into  London  under  the  form  of  a  soldier. 
And  such  fellows  are  perfect  in  the  great  com- 
manders' names  :  and  they  will  learn  you  by  rote 
where  services  v/ere  done;  at  such  and  such  a 
sconce,  at  such  a  breach,  at  such  a  convoy ;  who 
came  off  bravely,  who  was  shot,  who  disgraced, 
what  terms  the  enemy  stood  on ;  and  this  they 
con  perfectly  in  the  phrase  of  war,  which  they 
trick  up  with  new-tuned  oaths :  and  what  a 
beard  of  the  general's  cut  and  a  horrid  suit  of  80 
the  camp  will  do  among  foaming  bottles  and 
ale-washed  wats,  is  wonderful  to  be  thought  on. 
But  you  must  learn  to  know  such  slanders  of  the 
age,  or  else  you  may  be  marvellously  mistook. 
Flu.  I  tell  you  what,  Captain  Gower;  I  do  perceive 
he  is  not  the  man  that  he  would  gladly  make 
show  to  the  world  he  is :  if  I  find  a  hole  in  his 
coat,  I  will  tell  him  my  mind.  [Dritni  heard.] 
Hark  you,  the  king  is  coming,  and  I  must  speak 
with  him  from  the  pridge.  90 

Dniin  and  colours.      Enter  King  Henry,  Gloucester, 
and  Soldiers. 

God  pless  your  majesty! 

K.  Hen.  How    now,    Fluellen !     camest    thou    from    the 
bridge  ? 

Flu.  Ay,  so  please  your  majesty.  The  Duke  of 
Exeter  has  very  gallantly  maintained  the  pridge  : 
the  French  is  gone  off,  look  you ;  and  there  is 
gallant  and  most  prave  passages :  marry,  th' 
athversary  was  have  possession  of  the  pridge ; 
but  he  is  enforced  to  retire,  and  the  Duke  of 

75 


Act  III.  Sc.  vi.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Exeter  is  master  of  the  pridge :   I  can  tell  your 
majesty,  the  duke  is  a  prave  man.  lOO 

K.  Hen.  What  men  have  you  lost,  Fluellen  ? 

Flu.  The  perdition  of  th'  athversary  hath  been  very 
great,  reasonable  great:  marry,  for  my  pari,  I 
think  the  duke  hath  lost  never  a  man,  but  one 
that  is  like  to  be  executed  for  robbing  a  church, 
one  Bardolph,  if  your  majesty  know  the  man: 
his  face  is  all  bubukles,  and  whelks,  and  knobs, 
and  flames  o'  fire :  and  his  lips  blows  at  his  nose, 
and  it  is  like  a  coal  of  fire,  sometimes  plue  and 
sometimes  red;  but  his  nose  is  executed,  and  his  no 
fire  's  out. 

K.  Hen.  We  would  have  all  such  offenders  so  cut  off : 
and  we  give  express  charge,  that  in  our  marches 
through  the  country,  there  be  nothing  compelled 
from  the  villages,  nothing  taken  but  paid  for,  * 
none  of  the  French  upbraided  or  abused  in  dis- 
dainful language ;  for  wdien  lenity  and  cruelty 
play  for  a  kingdom,  the  gentler  gamester  is  the 
soonest  winner. 

Tucket.     Enter  Montjoy. 

Mont.  You  know  me  by  my  habit.  120 

K.  Hen.  Well  then  I  know  thee :    what  shall  I  know  of 
thee? 

Mont.  My  master's  mind. 

K.  Hen.  Unfold  it. 

Mont.  Thus  says  my  king:  Say  thou  to  Harry  of 
England :  Though  we  seemed  dead,  we  did  but 
sleep :  advantage  is  a  better  soldier  than  rash- 
ness.    Tell  him  we  could  have  rebuked  him  at 

76 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  vi. 

Harfleur,  but  that  we  thought  not  good  to  bruise 
an  injury  till  it  were  full  ripe:  now  we  speak 
upon  our  cue,  and  our  voice  is  imperial:  Eng-  130 
land  shall  repent  his  folly,  see  his  weakness,  and 
admire  our  sufferance.  Bid  him  therefore  con- 
sider of  his  ransom  ;  which  must  proportion  the 
losses  we  have  borne,  the  subjects  we  have  lost, 
the  disgrace  we  have  digested  ;  whicli  in  weight 
to  re-answer,  his  pettiness  would  bow  under.  For 
our  losses,  his  exchequer  is  too  poor ;  for  the 
effusion  of  our  blood,  the  muster  of  his  kingdom 
too  faint  a  number;  and  for  our  disgrace,  his 
own  person,  kneeling  at  our  feet,  but  a  weak  and  140 
worthless  satisfaction.  To  this  add  defiance : 
and  tell  him,  for  conclusion,  he  hath  betrayed  his 
followers,  whose  condemnation  is  pronounced. 
So  far  my  king  and  master ;  so  much  my  office. 

K.Hcn.    What  is  thy  name  ?    I  know  thy  quality. 

Mont,  IMontjoy. 

K.  Hen.  Thou  dost  thy  office  fairly.    Turn  thee  back, 
And  tell  thy  king  I  do  not  seek  him  now ; 
But  could  be  willing  to  march  on  to  Calais 
Without  impeachment ;   for,  to  say  the  sooth,  150 

Though  'tis  no  wisdom  to  confess  so  muck 
Unto  an  enemy  of  craft  and  vantage. 
My  people  are  with  sickness  much  enfeebled, 
Aly  numbers  lessen'd,  and  those  few  I  have 
Almost  no  better  than  so  many  French ; 
Who  when  they  were  in  health,  I  tell  thee,  herald, 
I  thought  upon  one  pair  of  English  legs 
Did  march  three  Frenchmen.     Yet,  forgive  me,  God, 
That  I  do  brag  thus !    This  your  air  of  France 

77 


Act  III.  Sc.  vii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Hath  blown  that  vice  in  me  ;  I  must  repent.  i6o 

Go  therefore,  tell  thy  master  here  I  am ; 

My  ransom  is  this  frail  and  worthless  trunk, 

My  army  but  a  weak  and  sickly  guard ; 

Yet,  God  before,  tell  him  we  will  come  on. 

Though  France  himself  and  such  another  neighbour 

Stand  in  our  way.    There  's  for  thy  labour,  Mont  joy. 

Go,  bid  thy  master  well  advise  himself : 

If  we  may  pass,  we  will ;  if  we  be  hinder'd, 

We  shall  your  tawny  ground  with  your  red  blood 

Discolour:   and  so,  Montjoy,  fare  you  well.  170 

The  sum  of  all  our  answer  is  but  this : 

We  would  not  seek  a  battle,  as  we  are ; 

Nor,  as  we  are,  we  say  we  will  not  shun  it : 

So  tell  your  master. 

Mont.  I  shall  deliver  so.    Thanks  to  vour  highness. 

[E.vif. 

Glou.  I  hope  they  will  not  come  upon  us  now. 

K.  Hen.  We  are  in  God's  hand,  brother,  not  in  theirs. 
March  to  the  bridge  ;  it  now^  draws  toward  night : 
Beyond  the  river  we  '11  encamp  ourselves,  170 

And  on  to-morrow  bid  them  march  away.      [Exeunt. 

Scene  VII. 

The  French  camp,  near  Agincoiirt. 

Enter  the  Constable  of  France,  the  Lord  Rambures, 
Orleans,  Dauphin,  zvith  others. 

Con.  Tut!    I  have  the  best   armour  of  the  world. 

Would  it  were  day! 
Orl.  You  have  an  excellent  armour  ;  but  let  my  horse 

have  his  due. 

78 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  vii. 

Co]i.  It  is  the  best  horse  of  Europe. 

Orl.  Will  it  never  be  morning? 

Dan.  My  Lord  of  Orleans,  and  my  lord  high  con- 
"stable,  you  talk  of  horse  and  armour? 

Orl.  You  are  as  well  provided  of  both  as  any  prince 

in  the  world.  lo 

Dau.  What  a  long  night  is  this !  I  will  not  change 
my  horse  with  any  that  treads  but  on  four  pas- 
terns. Ca,  ha !  he  bounds  from  the  earth,  as 
if  his  entrails  were  hairs  ;  le  cheval  volant,  the 
Pegasus,  chez  les  narines  de  feu !  When  I  be- 
stride him,  I  soar,  I  am  a  hawk :  he  trots  the 
air ;  the  earth  sings  when  he  touches  it ;  the 
basest  horn  of  his  hoof  is  more  musical  than 
the  pipe  of  Hermes. 

Orl.  He  's  of  the  colour  of  the  nutmeg.  20 

Dau.  And  of  the  heat  of  the  ginger.  It  is  a  beast 
for  Perseus :  he  is  pure  air  and  fire ;  and  the 
dull  elements  of  earth  and  water  never  appear  in 
him,  but  only  in  patient  stillness  while  his  rider 
mounts  him :  he  is  indeed  a  horse ;  and  all  other 
jades  you  may  call  beasts. 

Coji.  Indeed,  my  lord,  it  is  a  most  absolute  and  ex-* 
cellent  horse. 

Dau.  It  Is  the  prince  of  palfreys  ;    his  neigh  is  like 

the  bidding  of  a  monarch,  and  his  countenance     30 
enforces  homage. 

Orl.  No  more,  cousin. 

Dau.  Nay,  the  man  hath  no  wit  that  cannot,  from  the 
rising  of  the  lark  to  the  lodging  of  the  lamb,  vary 
deserved  praise  on  my  palfrey :  it  is  a  theme  as 
fluent  as  the  sea :    turn  the  sands  into  eloquent 

79 


Act  III.  Sc.  vii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

tongues,  and  my  horse  is  argument  for  them  all : 
'tis  a  subject  for  a  sovereign  to  reason  on,  and 
for  a  sovereign's  sovereign  to  ride  on ;  and  for 
the  world,  familiar  to  us  and  unknown,  to  lay  40 
apart  their  particular  functions  and  wonder  at 
him.  I  once  writ  a  sonnet  in  his  praise,  and  be- 
gan thus  :     '  Wonder  of  nature,' — 

Orl.  I  have  heard  a  sonnet  begin  so  to  one's  mistress. 

Dan.  Then  did  they  imitate  that  which  I  composed 
to  my  courser,  for  my  horse  is  my  mistress. 

Orl.  Your  mistress  bears  well. 

Dan.  Me  well ;  which  is  the  prescript  praise  and  per- 
fection of  a  good  and  particular  mistress. 

Con.  Nay,   for  methought  yesterday  your  mistress     50 
shrewdly  shook  your  back. 

Dau.  So  perhaps  did  yours. 

Con.  Mine  was  not  bridled. 

Dau.  O  then  belike  she  was  old  and  gentle ;  and  you 
rode,  like  a  kern  of  Ireland,  your  French  hose 
otT,  and  in  your  strait  strossers. 

Con.  You  have  good  judgement  in  horsemanship. 

Dau.  Be  warned  by  me,  then :   they  that  ride  so,  and 
'ride  not  warily,  fall  into  foul  bogs.     I  had  rather 
have  my  horse  to  my  mistress.  60 

Co)i.  I  had  as  lief  have  my  mistress  a  jade. 

Dau.  I  tell  thee,  constable,  my  mistress  wears  his  own 
hair. 

Con.  I  could  make  as  true  a  boast  as  that,  if  I  had  a 
sow  to  my  mistress. 

Dau.  '  Le  chien  est  retourne  a  son  propre  vomisse- 
ment,  et  la  truie  lavee  au  bourbier : '  thou  makest 
use  of  any  thing. 

80 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  vii. 

Con.  Yet  do  I  not  use  my  horse  for  my  mistress,  or 

any  such  proverb  so  Httle  kin  to  the  purpose.  70 

Ram.  My  lord  constable,  the  armour  that  I  saw  in 
your  tent  to-night,  are  those  stars  or  suns  upon 
it? 

Con.  Stars,  my  lord. 

Daii.  Some  of  them  will  fall  to-morrow,  I  hope. 

Con.  And  yet  my  sky  shall  not  want. 

Dan.  That  may  be,  for  you  bear  a  many  superflu- 
ously, and  'twere  more  honour  some  were  away. 

Con.  Even  as  your  horse  bears  your  praises ;    who 

would  trot  as  well,  were  some  of  your  brags     80 
dismounted. 

Dan.  Would  I  were  able  to  load  him  with  his  desert ! 
Will  it  never  be  day?  I  will  trot  to-morrow  a 
mile,  and  my  way  shall  be  paved  with  English 
faces. 

Con.  I  will  not  say  so,  for  fear  I  should  be  faced  out 
of  my  way:  but  I  would  it  were  morning;  for 
I  would  fain  be  about  the  ears  of  the  English. 

Ram.  Who  will  go  to  hazard  with  me  for  twenty 

prisoners  ?  90 

Con.  You  must  first  go  yourself  to  hazard,  ere  you 
have  them. 

Dau.  'Tis  midnight ;  I  '11  go  arm  myself.  [Exit. 

Orl.  The  Dauphin  longs  for  morning. 

Ram.  He  longs  to  eat  the  English. 

Con.  I  think  he  will  eat  all  he  kills. 

Orl.  By  the  white  hand  of  my  lady,  he  's  a  gallant 
prince. 

Con.  Swear  by  her  foot,  that  she  mav  tread  out  the 

oath.  100 

81 


Act  III.  Sc.  vii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Orl.  He   is    simply   the   most   active   gentleman    of 

France. 
Coil.  Doing  is  activity ;   and  he  will  still  be  doing. 
Orl.  He  never  did  harm,  that  I  heard  of. 
Con.  Nor  will  do  none  to-morrow :  he  will  keep  that 

good  name  still. 
Orl.  I  know  him  to  be  valiant. 
Con.  I  was  told  that  by  one  that  knows  him  better 

than  yon. 
Orl.  What 'she?  no 

Con.  Marry,  he  told  me  so  himself;    and  he  said  he 

cared  not  who  knew  it. 
Orl.  He  needs  not ;  it  is  no  hidden  virtue  in  him. 
Con.  By  my  faith,  sir,  but  it  is ;  never  any  body  saw 

it  but  his  lackey :    'tis  a  hooded  valour ;    and 

w^hen  it  appears,  it  wnll  bate. 
Orl.  Ill  will  never  said  well. 
Con.  I  will  cap  that  proverb  with  *  There  is  flattery 

in  friendship.' 
Orl.  And  I  will  take  up  that  with  '  Give  the  devil   120 

his  due.' 
Con.  Well  placed :    there  stands  your  friend  for  the 

devil :   have  at  the  very  eye  of  that  proverb  with 

'  A  pox  of  the  devil.' 
Orl.  You  are  the  better  at  proverbs,  by  how  much 

'  A  fool's  bolt  is  soon  shot.' 
Con.  You  have  shot  over. 
Orl.  Tis  not  the  first  time  you  were  overshot. 

Enter  a  Messenger. 

Mess.  My  lord  high  constable,  the  English  lie  within 

fifteen  hundred  paces  of  your  tents.  130 

82 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  III.  Sc.  vii. 

Con.  Who  hath  measured  the  ground? 

Mess.  The  Lord  Grandpre. 

Con.  A  vaHant  and  most  expert  gentleman.    Would 

it  were  day!      Alas,  poor  Harry  of  England! 

he  longs  not  for  the  dawning  as  we  do. 
Orl.  What  a  wretched  and  peevish  fellow  is   this 

King  of  England,  to  mope  with  his  fat-brained 

followers  so  far  out  of  his  knowledge ! 
Con.   If    the    English    had    any    apprehension,    they 

would  run  away.  140 

Orl.  That   they   lack;    for  if  their   heads   had   any 

intellectual  armour,  they  could  never  wear  such 

heavy  head-pieces. 
Ram.  That  island  of  England  Ijreeds  very  valiant 

creatures;    their   mastiffs   are   of   unmatchable 

courage. 
Orl.  Foolish  curs,  that  run  winking  into  the  mouth 

of  a  Russian  bear  and  have  their  heads  crushed : 

like  rotten  apples !     You  m^ay  as  well  say,  that 's 

a  valiant  flea  that  dare  eat  his  breakfast  on  the  150 

lip  of  a  lion. 
Con.  Just,  just;  and  the  men  do  sympathize  with  the 

mastiffs    in    robustious    and   rough   coming   on, 

leaving  their  wits  with  their  wives:    and  then 

give  them  great  meals  of  beef,  and  iron  and 

steel,  they  will  eat  like  wolves,  and  fight  like 

devils. 
Orl.  Ay,  but  these  English  are  shrewdly  out  of  beef. 
Con.  Then  shall  we  find  to-morrow  they  have  only 

stomachs  to  eat  and  none  to  fight.     Now  is  it 

time  to  arm:   come,  shall  we  about  it?  160 

Orl.  Tt  is  now  two  o'clock:   but,  let  me  see,  by  ten 

We  shall  have  each  a  hundred  Englishmen.    [E.reunt. 

83 


Act  IV.  Prologue  THE  LIFE  OF 

ACT  FOURTH. 

Prologue. 

Enter  Chorus. 

Chor.  Now  entertain  conjecture  of  a  time 

When  creeping  murmur  and  the  poring  dark 

Fills  the  wide  vessel  of  the  universe. 

From  camp  to  camp  through  the  foul  womb  of  night 

The  hum  of  either  army  stilly  sounds, 

That  the  fix'd  sentinels  almost  receive 

The  secret  whispers  of  each  other's  watch: 

Fire  answers  fire,  and  through  their  paly  flames 

Each  battle  sees  the  other's  umber'd  face; 

Steed  threatens  steed,  in  high  and  boastful  neighs  lo 

Piercing  the  night's  dull  ear;  and  from  the  tents 

The  armourers,  accomplishing  the  knights, 

With  busy  hammers  closing  rivets  up. 

Give  dreadful  note  of  preparation: 

The  country  cocks  do  crow,  the  clocks  do  toll, 

And  the  third  hour  of  drowsy  morning  name. 

Proud  of  their  numbers  and  secure  in  soul, 

The  confident  and  over-lusty  French 

Do  the  low-rated  English  play  at  dice; 

And  chide  the  cripple  tardy-gaited  night  20 

Who,  like  a  foul  and  ugly  witch,  doth  limp 

So  tediously  away.     The  poor  condemned  English, 

Like  sacrifices,  by  their  watchful  fires 

Sit  patiently  and  inly  ruminate 

The  morning's  danger,  and  their  gesture  sad 

Investing  lank-lean  cheeks  and  war-worn  coats 

Presenteth  them  unto  the  gazing  moon 

84 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Prologue 

So  many  horrid  ghosts.     O  now,  who  will  behold 

The  royal  captain  of  this  ruin'd  band 

Walking  from  watch  to  watch,  from  tent  to  tent,      30 

Let  him  cry  '  Praise  and  glory  on  his  head !  ' 

For  forth  he  goes  and  visits  all  his  host, 

Bids  them  good  morrow  with  a  modest  smile, 

And  calls  them  brothers,  friends  and  countrymen. 

Upon  his  royal  face  there  is  no  note 

How  dread  an  army  hath  enrounded  him ; 

Nor  doth  he  dedicate  one  jot  of  colour 

Unto  the  weary  and  all-watched  night. 

But  freshly  looks  and  over-bears  attaint 

With  cheerful  semblance  and  sweet  majesty  ;  40 

That  every  wretch,  pining  and  pale  before, 

Beholding  him,  plucks  comfort  from  his  looks : 

A  largess  universal  like  the  sun 

His  liberal  eye  doth  give  to  every  one, 

Thawing  cold  fear,  that  mean  and  gentle  all 

Behold,  as  may  unworthiness  define, 

A  little  touch  of  Harry  in  the  night. 

And  so  our  scene  must  to  the  battle  fly ; 

Where — O  for  pity ! — we  shall  much  disgrace 

With  four  or  five  most  vile  and  ragged  foils,  50 

Right  ill-disposed  in  brawl  ridiculous. 

The  name  of  Agincourt.     Yet  sit  and  see, 

Minding  true  things  by  what  their  mockeries  be. 

[Exit. 


8S 


Act  IV.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Scene  I. 

The  English  camp  at  Agincourt. 

Enter  King  Henry,  Bedford,  and  Gloucester. 

K.  Hen.  Gloucester,  'tis  true  that  we  are  in  great  danger ; 
The  greater  therefore  should  our  courage  be. 
Good  morrow,  brother  Bedford.     God  Almighty ! 
There  is  some  soul  of  goodness  in  things  evil, 
Would  men  observingly  distil  it  out. 
For  our  bad  neighbour  makes  us  early  stirrers. 
Which  is  both  healthful  and  good  husbandry : 
Besides,  they  are  our  outward  consciences. 
And  preachers  to  us  all,  admonishing 
That  we  should  dress  us  fairly  for  our  end.  lo 

Thus  may  we  gather  honey  from  the  weed, 
And  make  a  moral  of  the  devil  himself. 

Enter  Erpingham. 

Good  morrow,  old  Sir  Thomas  Erpingham : 
A  good  soft  pillow  for  that  good  white  head 
Were  better  than  a  churlish  turf  of  France. 

Erp.  Not  so,  my  liege :  this  lodging  likes  me  better. 
Since  I  may  say  '  Now^  lie  I  like  a  king.' 

K.  Hen.  'Tis  good  for  men  to  love  their  present  pains 
Upon  example  ;   so  the  spirit  is  eased : 
And  when  the  mind  is  quicken'd,  out  of  doubt,        20 
The  organs,  though  defunct  and  dead  before, 
Break  up  their  drowsy  grave  and  newly  move. 
With  casted  slough  and  fresh  legerity. 
Lend  me  thy  cloak.  Sir  Thomas.     Brothers  both. 
Commend  me  to  the  princes  in  our  camp ; 
Do  my  good  morrow  to  them,  and  anon 
86 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

Desire  them  all  to  my  pavilion. 
Gloii.  We  shall,  my  liege. 
Erp.  Shall  I  attend  your  grace? 
K.  Hen.  No,  my  good  knight ; 

Go  with  my  brothers  to  my  lords  of  England :  30 

I  and  my  bosom  must  debate  a  while, 

And  then  I  would  no  other  company. 
Erp.  The  Lord  in  heaven  bless  thee,  noble  Harry ! 

[Exeunt  all  but  King. 
K.  Hen.  God-a-mercy,  old  heart !  thou  speak'st  cheerfully. 

Enter  Pistol. 

Pist.  Qui  va  la? 

K.  Hen.  A  friend. 

Pist.  Discuss  unto  me;   art  thou  officer? 

Or  art  thou  base,  common,  and  popular  ? 

K.  Hen.  I  am  a  gentleman  of  a  company. 

Pist.  Trail'st  thou  the  puissant  pike?  40 

K.  Hen.  Even  so.     What  are  you  ? 

Pist.  As  good  a  gentleman  as  the  emperor. 

K.  Hen.  Then  you  are  a  better  than  the  king. 

Pist.  The  king  's  a  bawcock,  and  a  heart  of  gold, 
A  lad  of  life,  an  imp  of  fame ; 
Of  parents  good,  of  fist  most  valiant : 
I  kiss  his  dirty  shoe,  and  from  heart-string 
I  love  the  lovely  bully.    What  is  thy  name  ? 

K.  Hen.  Harrv  le  Rov. 


Pist.  Le   Roy!    a  Cornish  name: 

art   thou   of   Cornish 

crew  ? 

50 

K.  Hen.  No,  I  am  a  Welshman. 

Pist.  Know'st  thou  Fluellen  ? 

K.  Hen.  Yes. 

87 

Act  IV.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Pist.  Tell  him,  I  '11  knock  his  leek  about  his  pate 

Upon  Saint  Davy's  day. 
K.  Hen.  Do  not  you  wear  your  dagger  in  your  cap 

that  day,  lest  he  knock  that  about  yours. 
Pist.  Art  thou  his  friend  ? 
K.  Hen.  And  his  kinsman  too. 

Pist.  The  figo  for  thee,  then  !  60 

K.  Hen.  I  thank  you  ;   God  be  with  you  ! 
Pist.  My  name  is  Pistol  call'd.  [Exit. 

K.  Hen.  It  sorts  well  with  your  fierceness. 

Enter  Fluellen  and  Gower. 

Gou\  Captain  Fluellen ! 

Flu.  So !  in  the  name  of  Jesu  Christ,  speak  lower. 
It  is  the  greatest  admiration  in  the  universal 
world,  when  the  true  and  aunchient  preroga- 
tifes  and  laws  of  the  wars  is  not  kept :  if  you 
would  take  the  pains  but  to  examine  the  wars 
of  Pompey  the  Great,  you  shall  find,  I  warrant  70 
you,  that  there  is  no  tiddle  taddle  nor  pibble 
pabble  in  Pompey's  camp ;  I  warrant  you,  you 
shall  find  the  ceremonies  of  the  wars,  and  the 
cares  of  it,  and  the  forms  of  it,  and  the  sobriety 
of  it,  and  the  modesty  of  it,  to  be  otherwise. 

G01V.  Why,  the  enemy  is  loud  ;  you  hear  him  all  night. 

Flu.  If  the  enemy  is  an  ass  and  a  fool  and  a  prating 
coxcomb,  is  it  meet,  think  you,  that  we  should 
also,  look  you,  be  an  ass  and  a  fool  and  a  prating 
coxcomb?   in  your  own  conscience,  now?  80 

Gou\  I  will  speak  lower. 

Flu.  I  pray  you  and  beseech  you  that  you  will. 

[Exeunt  Gower  and  Fluellen, 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

K.  Hen.  Though  it  appear  a  Httle  out  of  fashion, 

There  is  much  care  and  valour  in  this  Welshman. 

Enter  three  soldiers,  John  Bates,  Alexander  Court, 
and  Michael  Williams. 

Court.  Brother  John  Bates,  is  not  that  the  morning 
which  breaks  yonder  ? 

Bates.  I  think  it  be :    but  we  have  no  great  cause  to 
desire  the  approach  of  day. 

Will.  We  see  yonder  the  beginning  of  the  day,  but 

I  think  we  shall  never  see  the  end  of  it.     Who     90 
goes  there? 

K.  Hen.  A  friend. 

Will.  Under  what  captain  serve  you? 

K.  Hen.  Under  Sir  Thomas  Erpingham. 

Will.  A  good  old  commander  and  a  most  kind  gentle- 
man :  I  pray  you,  what  thinks  he  of  our  estate? 

K.  Hen.  Even   as   men   wrecked  upon  a  sand,   that 
look  to  be  washed  off  the  next  tide. 

Bates.  He  hath  not  told  his  thbught  to  the  king? 

K.  Hen.  No ;  nor  it  is  not  meet  he  should.  For,  100 
though  I  speak  it  to  you,  I  think  the  king  is  but 
a  man,  as  I  am :  the  violet  smells  to  him  as  it 
doth  to  me ;  the  element  shows  to  him  as  it 
doth  to  me ;  all  his  senses  have  but  human  con- 
ditions ;  his  ceremonies  laid  by,  in  his  nakedness 
he  appears  but  a  man  ;  and  though  his  affections 
are  higher  mounted  than  ours,  yet,  when  they 
stoop,  they  stoop  with  the  like  wing.  There- 
fore when  he  sees  reason  of  fears,  as  we  do,  his 
fears,  out  of  doubt,  be  of  the  same  relish  as  ours  no 
are :    yet,  in  reason,  no  man  should  possess  him 

89 


Act  IV.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

with  any  appearance  of  fear,  lest  he,  by  showing 
it  should  dishearten  his  army. 

Bates.  He  may  show  what  outward  courage  he  will ; 
but  I  believe,  as  cold  a  night  as  'tis,  he  could 
wish  himself  in  Thames  up  to  the  neck ;  and  so 
I  would  he  were,  and  I  by  him,  at  all  adventures, 
so  we  were  quit  here. 

A'.  Hen.  By  my  troth,  I  will  speak  my  conscience  of 

the  king:   I  think  he  would  not  wish  himself  any   120 
where  but  where  he  is. 

Bates.  Then  I  would  he  were  here  alone ;  so  should 
he  be  sure  to  be  ransomed,  and  a  many  poor 
men's  lives  saved. 

K.  Hen.  I  dare  say  you  love  him  not  so  ill,  to  wish 
him  here  alone,  howsoever  you  speak  this  to 
feel  other  men's  minds :  methinks  I  could  not 
die  any  where  so  contented  as  in  the  king's 
company ;  his  cause  being  just  and  his  quarrel 
honourable.  130 

U^ill.  That  's  more  than  we  know. 

Bates.  Ay,  or  more  than  we  should  seek  after ;  for 
we  know  enough,  if  we  know  we  are  the  king's 
subjects :  if  his  cause  be  wrong,  our  obedience 
to  the  king  wipes  the  crime  of  it  out  of  us. 

U^iU.  But  if  the- cause  be  not  good,  the  king  himself 
hath  a  heavy  reckoning  to  make,  when  all  those 
legs  and  arms  and  heads,  chopped  off  in  a  battle, 
shall  join  together  at  the  latter  day  and  cry  all 
'  We  died  at  such  a  place ; '  some  swearing,  140 
some  crying  for  a  surgeon,  some  upon  their 
wives  left  poor  behind  them,  some  upon  the  debts 
they  owe,  some  upon  their  children  rawly  left. 
90 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

I  am  afeard  there  are  few  die  well  that  die  in  a 
battle;  for  how  can  they  charitably  dispose  of 
any  thing,  when  blood  is  their  argument  ?  Now, 
if  these  men  do  not  die  well,  it  will  be  a  black 
matter  for  the  king  that  led  them  to  it ;  whom 
to  disobey  were  against  all  proportion  of  sub- 
jection. 150 
K.  Hen.  So,  if  a  son  that  is  by  his  father  sent  about 
merchandise  do  sinfully  miscarry  upon  the  sea, 
the  imputation  of  his  wickedness,  by  your  rule, 
should  be  imposed  upon  his  father  that  sent  him  : 
or  if  a  servant,  under  his  master's  command 
transporting  a  sum  of  money,  be  assailed  by 
robbers  and  die  in  many  irreconciled  iniquities, 
you  may  call  the  business  of  the  master  the 
author  of  the  servant's  damnation  :  but  this  is 
not  so:  the  king  is  not  bound  to  answer  the  160 
particular  endings  of  his  soldiers,  the  father  of 
his  son,  nor  the  master  of  his  servant ;  for  they 
purpose  not  their  death,  when  they  purpose  their 
services.  Besides,  there  is  no  king,  be  his  cause 
never  so  spotless,  if  it  come  to  the  arbitrement 
of  swords,  can  try  it  out  with  all  unspotted 
soldiers :  some  peradventure  have  on  them  the 
guilt  of  premeditated  and  contrived  murder; 
some,  of  beguiling  virgins  with  the  broken  seals 
of  perjury;  some,  making  the  wars  their  bul-  170 
wark,  that  have  before  gored  the  gentle  bosom 
of  peace  with  pillage  and  robbery.  Now,  if  these 
men  have  defeated  the  law  and  outrun  native 
punishment,  though  they  can  outstrip  men,  they 
have  no  wings  to  fly  from   God:    war  is  His 

91 


Act  IV.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

beadle,  war  is  His  vengeance ;  so  that  here  men 
are  punished  for  before-breach  of  the  king's  laws 
in  now  the  king's  quarrel :  where  they  feared 
the  death,  they  have  borne  life  away ;  and  where 
they  would  be  safe,  they  perish :  then  if  they  die  i8o 
unprovided,  no  more  is  the  king  guilty  of  their 
damnation  than  he  was  before  guilty  of  those  im- 
pieties for  the  which  they  are  now  visited.  Every 
subject's  duty  is  the  king's;  but  every  subject's 
soul  is  his  own.  Therefore  should  every  soldier 
in  the  wars  do  as  every  sick  man  in  his  bed,  wash 
every  mote  out  of  his  conscience :  and  dying  so, 
death  is  to  him  advantage;  or  not  dying,  the 
time  was  blessedly  lost  wherein  such  preparation 
was  gained :  and  in  him  that  escapes,  it  were  not  190 
sin  to  think  that,  making  God  so  free  an  offer, 
He  let  him  outlive  that  day  to  see  His  greatness 
and  to  teach  others  how  they  should  prepare. 

JVill.  Tis  certain,  every  man  that  dies  ill,  the  ill  upon 
his  own  head,  the  king  is  not  to  answer  it. 

Bates.  I  do  not  desire  he  should  answer  for  me ;  and 
yet  I  determine  to  fight  lustily  for  him. 

A'.  Hen.  I  myself  heard  the  king  say  he  would  not  be 
ransomed. 

Will.  Ay,  he  said  so,  to  make  us  fight  cheerfully :  but  200 
when  our  throats  are  cut,  he  may  be  ransomed, 
and  we  ne'er  the  wiser. 

K.  Hen.  If  I  live  to  see  it,  I  will  never  trust  his  word 
after. 

Will.  You  pay  him  then.  That 's  a  perilous  shot  out 
of  an  elder-gun,  that  a  poor  and  a  private  dis- 
pleasure can  do  against  a  monarch !   you  may  as 

92 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

well  go  about  to  turn  the  sun  to  Ice  with  fanning 
in  his   face   with   a   peacock's   feather.     You  '11 
never  trust  his  word  after!    come,  'tis  a  foolish  210 
saying. 

K.  Hen.  Your  reproof  is  something  too  round :  I 
should  be  angry  with  you,  if  the  time  were  con- 
venient. 

Will.  Let  it  be  a  quarrel  between  us,  if  you  live. 

K.  Hen.  I  embrace  it. 

Will.  How  shall  I  know  thee  again? 

K.  Hen.  Give  me  any  gage  of  thine,  and  I  will  wear 
it  in  my  bonnet :  then,  if  ever  thou  darest  ac- 
knowledge it,  I  will  make  it  my  quarrel. 

Will.  Here  's  my  glove :   give  me  another  of  thine.      220 

K.  Hen.  There. 

Will.  This  will  I  also  wear  in  my  cap :  if  ever  thou 
come  to  me  and  say,  after  to-morrow,  '  This  is 
my  glove,'  by  this  hand,  I  will  take  thee  a  box 
on  the  ear. 

K.  Hen.  If  ever  I  live  to  see  it,  I  will  challenge  it. 

Will.  Thou  darest  as  well  be  hanged. 

K.  Hen.  Well,  I  will  do  it,  though  I  take  thee  in  the 
king's  company. 

Will.  Keep  thy  word  :   fare  thee  well.  230 

Bates.  Be  friends,  you  English  fools,  be  friends :  we 
have  French  quarrels  enow,  if  you  could  tell 
how  to  reckon. 

K.  Hen.  Indeed,  the  French  may  lay  twenty  French 
crowns  to  one,  they  will  beat  us ;  for  they  bear 
them  on  their  shoulders :  but  it  is  no  English 
treason  to  cut  French  crowns,  and  to-morrow 
the  king  himself  will  be  a  clipper. 

[Exeunt  Soldiers, 

93 


Act  IV.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Upon  the  king!    let  us  our  lives,  our  souls, 

Our  debts,  our  careful  wives,  240 

Our  children  and  our  sins  lay  on  the  king- ! 

We  must  bear  all.     O  hard  condition. 

Twin-born  with  greatness,  subject  to  the  breath 

Of  every  fool,  whose  sense  no  more  can  feel 

But  his  own  wringing!     What  infinite  heart's-ease 

Must  kings  neglect,  that  private  men  enjoy! 

And  what  have  kings,  that  privates  have  not  too. 

Save  ceremony,  save  general  ceremony? 

And  what  art  thou,  thou  idol  ceremony? 

What  kind  of  god  art  thou,  that  suffer'st  more       250" 

Of  mortal  griefs  than  do  thy  worshippers  ? 

What  are  thy  rents  ?  what  are  thy  comings  in  ? 

0  ceremony,  show  me  but  thy  worth ! 
What  is  thy  soul  of  adoration? 

Art  thou  aught  else  but  place,  degree  and  form, 

Creating  awe  and  fear  in  other  men  ? 

Wherein  thou  art  less  happy  being  fear'd 

Than  they  in  fearing. 

What  drink'st  thou  oft,  instead  of  homage  sweet, 

But  poison'd  flattery  ?     O,  be  sick,  great  greatness. 

And  bid  thy  ceremony  give  thee  cure !  261 

Think'st  thou  the  fiery  fever  will  go  out 

With  titles  blown  from  adulation  ? 

Will  it  give  place  to  flexure  and  low  bending? 

Canst  thou,  when  thou  command'st  the  beggar's  knee, 

Command  the  health  of  it?     No,  thou  proud  dream, 

That  play'st  so  subtly  with  a  king's  repose ; 

1  am  a  king  that  find  thee,  and  I  know 
'Tis  not  the  balm,  the  sceptre  and  the  ball, 

The  sword,  the  mace,  the  crown  imperial,  270 

94 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  i. 

The  intertissued  robe  of  gold  and  pearl, 

The  farced  title  running  'fore  the  king, 

The  throne  he  sits  on,  nor  the  tide  of  pomp 

That  beats  upon  the  high  shore  of  this  world. 

No,  not  all  these,  thrice-gorgeous  ceremony, 

Not  all  these,  laid  in  bed  majestical, 

Can  sleep  so  soundly  as  the  wretched  slave. 

Who  with  a  body  fillVl  and  vacant  mind 

Gets  him  to  rest,  cramm'd  with  distressful  bread ; 

Never  sees  horrid  night,  the  child  of  hell,  280 

But,  like  a  lackey,  from  the  rise  to  set 

Sweats  in  the  eye  of  Phcebus  and  all  night 

Sleeps  in  Elysium ;   next  day  after  dawn. 

Doth  rise  and  help  Hyperion  to  his  horse. 

And  follows  so  the  ever-running  year. 

With  profitable  labour,  to  his  grave : 

And,  but  for  ceremony,  such  a  wretch, 

Winding  up  days  with  toil  and  nights  with  sleep, 

Had  the  fore-hand  and  vantage  of  a  king. 

The  slave,  a  member  of  the  country's  peace,  290 

Enjoys  it ;   but  in  gross  brain  little  wots 

What  watch  the  king  keeps  to  maintain  the  peace. 

Whose  hours  the  peasant  best  advantages. 

Re-enter  Erpingham. 

Erp.  My  lord,  your  nobles,  jealous  of  your  absence. 

Seek  through  your  camp  to  find  you. 
A'.  Hen.  Good  old  knight, 

Collect  them  all  together  at  my  tent : 

I  '11  be  before  thee. 
Erp.  I  shall  do 't,  my  lord.  [Exit. 

K.  Hen.   O  God  of  battles  !   steel  my  soldiers'  hearts  ; 

95 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Possess  them  not  with  fear ;   take  from  them  now 
The  sense  of  reckoning,  if  the  opposed  numbers    300 
Pluck  their  hearts  from  them.     Not  to-day,  O  Lord, 
O,  not  to-day,  think  not  upon  the  fault 
My  father  made  in  compassing  the  crown ! 
I  Richard's  body  have  interred  new ; 
And  on  it  have  bestow'd  more  contrite  tears 
Than  from  it  issued  forced  drops  of  blood : 
Five  hundred  poor  I  have  in  yearly  pay, 
Who  twice  a-day  their  wither'd  hands  hold  up 
Toward  heaven,  to  pardon  blood  ;   and  I  have  built 
Two  chantries,  where  the  sad  and  solemn  priests  310 
Sing  still  for  Richard's  soul.     More  will  I  do ; 
Though  all  that  I  can  do  is  nothing  worth, 
Since  that  my  penitence  comes  after  all, 
Imploring  pardon. 

Re-enter  Gloucester. 

Glou.  My  liege ! 

K.  Hen.  My  brother  Gloucester's  voice  ?     Ay  ; 

I  know  thy  errand,  I  will  go  with  thee : 
The  day,  my  friends  and  all  things  stay  for  me. 

[Exeunt, 

Scene  II. 

The  French  camp. 
Enter  the  Dauphin,  Orleans,  Rambures,  and  others. 

Orl.  The  sun  doth  gild  our  armour;    up,  my  lords! 
Dan.   Alontez  a  cheval !   My  horse  !   varlet !   laquais  !   ha! 
Orl.  O  brave  spirit ! 
Dan.  Via!    les  eaux  et  la  terre. 

96 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  ii. 

Ori  Rien  puis?  I'air  et  le  feu. 
Dau.  Ciel,  cousin  Orleans. 

Enter  Constable. 

Now,  my  lord  constable! 
Con.  Hark,  how  our  steeds  for  present  service  neigh ! 
Dan.  Mount  them,  and  make  incision  in  their  hides, 

That  their  hot  blood  may  spin  in  English  eyes,  lo 

And  dout  them  with  superfluous  courage,  ha! 
Rant.  What,  will  you  have  them  weep  our  horses'  blood? 

How  shall  we  then  behold  their  natural  tears? 

Enter  Messenger. 

Mess,  The  English  are  embattled,  you  French  peers. 

Con.  To  horse  you  gallant  princes!   straight  to  horse! 
Do  but  behold  }on  poor  and  starved  band. 
And  your  fair  show  shall  suck  away  their  souls, 
Leaving  them  but  the  shales  and  husks  of  men. 
There  is  not  work  enough  for  all  our  hands ; 
Scarce  blood  enough  in  all  their  sickly  veins  20 

To  give  each  naked  curtle-axe  a  stain, 
That  our  French  gallants  shall  to-day  draw  out, 
And  sheathe  for  lack  of  sport :  let  us  but  blow  on  them, 
The  vapour  of  our  glory  will  o'erturn  them. 
'Tis  positive  'gainst  all  exceptions,  lords, 
That  our  superfluous  lackeys  and  our  peasants, 
Who  in  unnecessary  action  swarm 
About  our  squares  of  battle,  were  enow 
To  purge  this  field  of  such  a  hilding  foe. 
Though  we  upon  this  mountain's  basis  by  30 

Took  stand  for  idle  speculation: 
But  that  our  honours  must  not.     What 's  to  say? 
A  very  little  little  let  us  do, 

97 


Act  IV.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

And  all  is  done.     Then  let  the  trumpets  sound 
The  tucket  sonance  and  the  note  to  mount; 
For  our  approach  shall  so  much  dare  the  field 
That  England  shall  couch  down  in  fear  and  yield. 

Enter  Graiidprc. 

Grand.  Why  do  you  stay  so  long,  my  lords  of  France? 
Yon  island  carrions,  desperate  of  their  bones, 
Ill-favouredly  become  the  morning  field  :  40 

Their  ragged  curtains  poorly  are  let  loose, 
And  our  air  shakes  them  passing  scornfully: 
Big  Mars  seenis  bankrupt  in  their  beggar'd  host 
And  faintly  through  a  rusty  beaver  peeps: 
The  horsemen  sit  like  fixed  candlesticks, 
With  torch-staves  in  their  hand  :  and  their  poor  jades 
Lob  down  their  heads,  dropping  the  hides  and  hips, 
The  gum  down-roping  from  their  pale-dead  eyes, 
And  in  their  pale  dull  mouths  the  gimmal  bit 
Lies  foul  with  chew'd  grass,  still  and  motionless;  50 
And  their  executors,  the  knavish  crows, 
Fly  o'er  them,  all  impatient  for  their  hour. 
Description  cannot  suit  itself  in  words 
To  demonstrate  the  life  of  such  a  battle 
In  life  so  lifeless  as  it  shows  itself. 

Con.  They  have  said  their  prayers,  and  they  stay  for  death. 

Dan.  Shall  we  go  send  them  dinners  and  fresh  suits 
And  give  their  fasting  horses  provender. 
And  after  fight  with  them? 

Con.  I  stay  but  for  my  guidon  :   to  the  field  !  60 

I  will  the  banner  from  a  trumpet  take, 
And  use  it  for  my  haste.     Come,  come,  away! 
The  sun  is  high,  and  we  outwear  the  day.     [Exeunt. 
98 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  iii. 

Scene  III. 

The  English  camp. 

Enter  Gloucester,  Bedford,  Exeter,  Erpingham,  z^'ith 
all  his  host:  Salisbury  and  Westmoreland. 

Glou.  Where  is  the  king? 

Bed.  The  king  himself  is  rode  to  view  their  battle. 

West.  Of  fighting  men  they  have  full  three  score  thousand. 

Exe.  There  's  five  to  one ;   besides,  they  all  are  fresh. 

Sal.  God's  arm  strike  with  us !    'tis  a  fearful  odds. 
God  be  wi'  you,  princes  all ;    I  '11  to  my  charge : 
If  we  no  more  meet  till  we  meet  in  heaven, 
Then,  joyfully,  my  noble  Lord  of  Bedford, 
My  dear  Lord  Gloucester,  and  my  good  Lord  Exeter, 
And  my  kind  kinsman,  warriors  all,  adieu!  lo 

Bed.  Farewell,  good  Salisbury ;    and  good  luck  go  with 
thee ! 

Exe.  Farewell,  kind  lord;   fight  valiantly  to-day: 
And  yet  I  do  thee  wrong  to  mind  thee  of  it. 
For  thou  art  framed  of  the  firm  truth  of  valour. 

[Exit  Salisbury. 

Bed.  He  is  as  full  of  valour  as  of  kindness ; 
Princely  in  both. 

Enter  the  King. 

West.  O  that  we  now  had  here 

But  one  ten  thousand  of  those  men  in  England 
That  do  no  work  to-day ! 

K.  Hen.  What 's  he  that  wishes  so? 

My  cousin  Westmoreland?     No,  my  fair  cousin 
If  we  are  mark'd  to  die,  we  are  enow  20 

To  do  our  country  loss  ;   and  if  to  live, 

99 


Act  IV.  Sc.  iii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

The  fewer  men,  the  greater  share  of  honour. 
God's  will !    1  pray  thee,  wish  not  one  man  more. 
By  Jove,  I  am  not  covetous  for  gold, 
Nor  care  I  who  doth  feed  upon  my  cost; 
It  yearns  me  not  if  men  my  garments  wear ; 
Such  outward  things  dwell  not  in  my  desires : 
But  if  it  be  a  sin  to  covet  honour, 
I  am  the  most  offending  soul  alive. 
No,  faith,  my  coz,  wash  not  a  man  from  England :  30 
God's  peace  !     I  would  not  lose  so  great  an  honour 
As  one  man  more,  methinks,  would  share  from  me 
For  the  best  h^e  I  have.     O,  do  not  wash  one  more ! 
Rather  proclaim  it,  Westmoreland,  through  my  host, 
That  he  which  hath  no  stomach  to  this  fight. 
Let  him  depart ;  his  passport  shall  be  made 
And  crowns  for  convoy  put  into  his  purse: 
We  would  not  die  in  that  man's  company 
That  fears  his  fellowship  to  die  with  us. 
This  day  is  call'd  the  feast  of  Crispian :  40 

He  that  outlives  this  day,  and  comes  safe  home. 
Will  stand  a  tip-toe  wdien  this  day  is  named, 
And  rouse  him  at  the  name  of  Crispian. 
He  that  shall  live  this  day,  and  see  old  age. 
Will  yearly  on  the  vigil  feast  his  neighbours, 
And  say,  '  To-morrow^  is  Saint  Crispian : ' 
Then  wall  he  strip  his  sleeve  and  show  his  scars. 
And  say/  These  wounds  I  had  on  Crispin's  day.' 
Old  men  forget ;  yet  all  shall  be  forgot. 
But  he  '11  remember  wath  advantages  50 

What  feats  he  did  that  day :   then  shall  our  names, 
Familiar  in  his  mouth  as  household  words, 
Harry  the  King,  Bedford  and  Exeter, 
100 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  iii. 

Warwick  and  Talbot,  Salisbury  and  Gloucester, 

Be  in  their  flowing  cups  freshly  remember'd. 

This  story  shall  the  good  man  teach  his  son ; 

And  Crispin  Crispian  shall  ne'er  go  by, 

From  this  day  to  the  ending  of  the  world, 

But  we  in  it  shall  be  remembered ; 

We  few,  we  happy  few,  we  band  of  brothers ;         60 

For  he  to-day  that  sheds  his  blood  with  me 

Shall  be  my  brother ;   be  he  ne'er  so  vile. 

This  day  shall  gentle  his  condition : 

And  gentlemen  in  England  now^  a-bed 

Shall  think  themselves  accursed  they  were  not  here. 

And  hold  their  manhoods  cheap  whiles  any  speaks 

That  fought  w^ith  us  upon  Saint  Crispin's  day. 

Rc-cntcr  Salisbury. 

Sal.   Aly  sovereign  lord,  bestow  yourself  with  speed : 
The  French  are  bravely  in  their  battles  set, 
And  will  with  all  expedience  charge  on  us.  70 

K.  Hen.  All  things  are  ready,  if  our  minds  be  so. 

West.  Perish  the  man  whose  mind  is  backward  now  ! 

K.  Hen.  Thou  dost  not  wish  more  help  from  England,  coz  ? 

West.  God's  w^ill !   my  liege,  would  you  and  I  alone, 
Without  more  help,  could  fight  this  royal  battle ! 

K.  Hen.  Why,  now  thou  hast  unwish'd  five  thousand  men, 
Which  likes  me  better  than  to  wish  us  one. 
You  know  your  places  :  God  be  with  you  all ! 

Tucket.     Enter  Montjoy. 

Mont.  Once  more  I  come  to  know  of  thee.  King  Harry, 
If  for  thy  ransom  thou  wilt  now  compound,  80 

Before  thy  most  assured  overthrow : 

lOI 


Act  IV.  Sc.  iii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

For  certainly  thou  art  so  near  the  gulf. 

Thou  needs  must  be  englutted.     Besides,  in  mercy, 

The  constable  desires  thee  thou  wilt  mind 

Thy  followers  of  repentance ;   that  their  souls 

May  make  a  peaceful  and  a  sweet  retire 

From  ofif  these  fields,   where,   wretches,   their  poor 

bodies 
Must  lie  and  fester. 

K.  Hen.  Who  hath  sent  thee  now  ? 

Mont.  The  Constable  of  France. 

K,  Hen.  I  pray  thee,  bear  my  former  answer  back  :         90 
Bid  them  achieve  me  and  then  sell  my  bones. 
Good  God  !  why  should  they  mock  poor  fellows  thus  ? 
The  man  that  once  did  sell  the  lion's  skin 
While  the  beast  lived,  was  killed  with  hunting  him. 
A  many  of  our  bodies  shall  no  doubt 
Find  native  graves  ;  upon  the  which,  I  trust. 
Shall  witness  live  in  brass  of  this  day's  work : 
And  those  that  leave  their  valiant  bones  in  France, 
Dying  like  men,  though  buried  in  your  dunghills, 
They  shall  be  famed ;    for  there  the  sun  shall  greet 
them,  100 

And  draw  their  honours  reeking  up  to  heaven ; 
Leaving  their  earthly  parts  to  choke  your  clime, 
The  smell  whereof  shall  breed  a  plague  in  France. 
Mark  then  abounding  valour  in  our  English, 
That  being  dead,  like  to  the  bullet's  grazing, 
Break  out  into  a  second  course  of  mischief, 
Killing  in  relapse  of  mortality. 
Let  me  speak  proudly :  tell  the  constable 
We  are  but  warriors  for  the  working-day ; 
Our  gayness  and  our  gilt  are  all  besmirch'd  110 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  iv. 

With  rainy  marching  in  the  painful  field ; 

There  's  not  a  piece  of  feather  in  our  host — 

Good  argument,  I  hope,  we  will  not  fly — 

And  time  hath  worn  us  into  slovenry : 

But,  by  the  mass,  our  hearts  are  in  the  trim ; 

And  my  poor  soldiers  tell  me,  yet  ere  night 

They  '11  be  in  fresher  robes,  or  they  will  pluck 

The  gay  new  coats  o'er  the  French  soldiers'  heads 

And  turn  them  out  of  service     If  they  do  this, — 

As,  if  God  please,  they  shall, — my  ransom  then       120 

Will  soon  be  levied.    Herald,  save  thou  thy  labour  • 

Come  thou  no  more  for  ransom,  gentle  herald : 

They  shall  have  none,  I  swear,  but  these  my  joints ; 

Which  if  they  have  as  I  will  leave  'em  them. 

Shall  yield  them  little,  tell  the  constable. 

Mont.  I  shall.  King  Harry.    And  so  fare  thee  well : 

Thou  never  shalt  hear  herald  any  more.  [Exit. 

K.  Hen.  I  fear  thou  'It  once  more  come  again  for  ransom. 

*  Enter  York. 

York.  My  lord,  most  humbly  on  my  knee  I  beg 

The  leading  of  the  vaward.  130 

K.  Hen.  Take  it,  brave  York.  Now,  soldiers,  march  away  : 
And  how  thou  pleasest,  God,  dispose  the  day ! 

[Exeunt. 

Scene  IV, 

The  Held  of  battle. 

,  Alarum.    Excursions.    Enter  Pistol,  French  Soldier, 
and  Boy. 
Pist.  Yield,  cur! 

Fr.  Sol.  Je   pense   que    vous   etes    gentilhomme    de 
bonne  qualite. 

103 


Act  IV.  Sc.  iv.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Pist.  Qualtitie  calmie  custure  me  !    Art  thou  a  gentle- 
man ?   what  is  thy  name  ?   discuss. 
Fr.  Sol.  O  Seigneur  Dieu ! 
Pist.  O,  Signieur  Dew  should  be  a  gentleman : 

Perpend  my  words,  O  Signieur  Dew,  and  mark ; 

O  Signieur  Dew,  thou  diest  on  point  of  fox, 

Except,  O  signieur,  thou  do  give  to  me 

Egregious  ransom.  lo 

Fr.  Sol.  O,  prenez  misericorde !    ayez  pitie  dc  moi ! 
Pist.  Moy  shall  not  serve ;   I  will  have  forty  moys  ; 

Or  I  will  fetch  thy  rim  out  at  thy  throat 

In  drops  of  crimson  blood. 
Fr.  Sol.  Est-il  impossible  d'echapper  la  force  de  ton 

bras? 
Pist.  Brass,  cur ! 

Thou  damned  and  luxurious  mountain  goat, 

Offer'st  me  brass  ? 
Fr.  Sol.  O  pardonnez  moi !  20 

Pist.  Say'st  thou  me  so?  is  that  a  ton  of  moys?  » 

Come  hither,  boy :  ask  me  this  slave  in  French 

What  is  his  name. 
Boy.  ficoutez  :   comment  etes-vous  appele  ? 
Fr.  Sol.  Monsieur  le  Fer. 
Boy.  He  says  his  name  is  Master  Fer. 
Pist.  Master  Fer!     I'll  fer  him,  and  firk  him,  and 

ferret  him :    discuss   the  same  in   French  unto 

him. 
Boy.  I  do  not  know  the  French  for  fer,  and  ferret,     30 

and  firk.  • 

Pist.  Bid  him  prepare ;  for  I  will  cut  his  throat. 
Fr.  Sol.  Que  dit-il,  monsieur  ? 

Boy.  II  me  commande  de  vous  dire  que  vous  faites 

104 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  iv. 

vous  pret ;    car  ce  soldat  ici  est  dispose  tout  a 
cette  heure  de  couper  votre  gorge. 

Pist.  Owy,  cuppele  gorge,  permafoy. 

Peasant,  unless  thou  give  me  crowns,  brave  crowns 
Or  mangled  shalt  thou  be  by  this  my  sword. 

Fr.  Sol.  O,  je  vous  supplie,  pour  Tamour  de  Dieu,     40 
me  pardonner!     Je  suis  gentilhomme  de  bonne 
maison :  gardez  ma  vie,  et  je  vous  donnerai  deux 
cents  ecus. 

Pist.  What  are  his  words  ? 

Boy.  He  prays  you  to  save  his  life :  he  is  a  gentle- 
man of  a  good  house ;  and  for  his  ransom  he 
will  give  you  two  hundred  crowns. 

Pist.  Tell  him  my  fury  shall  abate,  and  I 
The  crowns  will  take. 

Fr.  Sol.  Petit  monsieur,  que  dit-il?  "  50 

Boy.  Encore  qu'il  est  contre  son  jurement  de  pardon- 
ner aucun  prisonnier,  neanmoins,  pour  les  ecus 
que  vous  I'avez  promis,  il  est  content  de  vous 
donner  la    liberte,  le  franchisement. 

Fr.  Sol.  Sur  mes  genoux  je  vous  donne  mille  re- 
merclmens ;  et  je  m'estime  heureux  que  je  suis 
tombe  entre  les  mains  d'un  chevalier,  je  pense 
le  plus  brave,  vaillant,  et  tres  distingue  seigneur 
d'Angleterre. 

Pist.  Expound  unto  me,  boy.  60 

Boy.  He  gives  you,  upon  his  knees,  a  thousand  thanks  ; 
and  he  esteems  himself  happy  that  he  hath  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  one,  as  he  thinks,  the  most  brave, 
valorous,  and  thrice-worthy  signieur  of  England. 

Pist.  As  I  suck  blood,  I  will  some  mercy  show. 
Follow  me ! 

105 


Act  IV.  Sc.  V.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Boy.  Suivez-vous  le  grand  capitain.  [Exeunt  Pistol, 
and  French  Soldier.]  I  did  never  know  so  full 
a  voice  issue  from  so  empty  a  heart :  but  the 
saying  is  true,  '  The  empty  vessel  makes  the  70 
greatest  sound.'  Bardolph  and  Nym  had  ten 
times  more  valour  than  this  roaring  devil  i'  the 
old  play,  that  every  one  may  pare  his  nails  with 
a  wooden  dagger ;  and  they  are  both  hanged ; 
and  so  would  this  be,  if  he  durst  steal  any  thing 
adventurously.  I  must  stay  with  the  lackeys, 
with  the  luggage  of  our  camp  :  the  French  might 
have  a  good  prey  of  us.  if  he  knew  of  it ;  for 
there  is  none  to  guard  it  but  boys.  [E.vit. 

Scene  V. 

Another  part  of  the  field. 

Enter   Constable,    Orleans,   Bourbon,   Dauphin,   and 
Ranibures. 

Con.  O  diable ! 

Orl.  O  Seigneur !   le  jour  est  perdu,  tout  est  perdu ! 

Dau.  Alort  de  ma  vie !   all  is  confounded,  all ! 

Reproach  and  everlasting  shame 

Sits  mocking  in  our  plumes.    O  mechante  fortune ! 

Do  not  run  away.  [A  short  alarum. 

Con.  \Miy,  all  our  ranks  are  broke. 

Dau.  O  perdurable  shame !    let  's  stab  ourselves. 

Be  these  the  wretches  that  we  play'd  at  dice  for? 
Orl.  Is  this  the  king  we  sent  to  for  his  ransom? 
Bour.  Shame  and  eternal  shame,  nothing  but  shame!      10 

Let  us  die  in  honour :   once  more  back  again ; 

And  he  that  will  not  follow  Bourbon  now, 

106 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  vi. 

Let  him  go  hence,  and  with  his  cap  in  hand, 

Like  a  base  pandar,  hold  the  chamber-door 

Whilst  by  a  slave,  no  gentler  than  my  dog, 

His  fairest  daughter  is  contaminated. 
Con.  Disorder,  that  hath  spoil'd  us,  friend  us  now ! 

Let  us  on  heaps  go  offer  up  our  lives. 
Orl.  We  are  enow  yet  living  in  the  field 

To  smother  up  the  English  in  our  throngs,  20 

If  any  order  might  be  thought  upon. 
Boiir.  The  devil  take  order  now!    I  '11  to  the  throng: 

Let  life  be  short ;   else  shame  will  be  too  long. 

[Exeunt. 

Scene  VI. 

Another  part  of  the  field. 

Alarum.    Enter  Kiiii^  Henry  and  forces,  Exeter,  and 
others. 

K.  Hen.  Well  have  we  done,  thrice  valiant  countrymen : 
But  all 's  not  done ;   yet  keep  the  French  the  field. 

Exe.  The  Duke  of  York  commends  him  to  your  majesty. 

K.  Hen.  Lives  he,  good  uncle?  thrice  within  this  hour 
I  saw  him  down  ;  thrice  up  again,  and  fighting ; 
From  helmet  to  the  spur  all  blood  he  was. 

Exe.  In  which  array,  brave  soldier,  doth  he  lie. 
Larding  the  plain  :  and  by  his  bloody  side. 
Yoke-fellow  to  his  honour-owing  wounds, 
The  noble  Earl  of  Suffolk  also  lies.  10 

Suffolk  first  died  :  and  York,  all  haggled  over. 
Comes  to  him,  where  in  gore  he  lay  insteep'd. 
And  takes  him  by  the  beard ;   kisses  the  gashes 
That  bloodily  did  yawn  upon  his  face ; 
107 


Act  IV.  Sc.  vii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

And  cries  aloud  '  Tarry,  dear  cousin  Suffolk ! 
My  soul  shall  thine  keep  company  to  heaven ; 
Tarry,  sweet  soul,  for  mine,  then  fly  abreast, 
As  in  this  glorious  and  well-foughten  field 
We  kept  together  in  our  chivalry !  ' 
Upon  these  words  I  came  and  cheer'd  him  up :         20 
He  smiled  me  in  the  face,  raught  me  his  hand. 
And,  with  a  feeble  gripe,  says  '  Dear  my  lord. 
Commend  my  service  to  my  sovereign.' 
So  did  he  turn,  and  over  Suffolk's  neck 
He  threw  his  wounded  arm  and  kiss'd  his  lips ; 
And  so  espoused  to  death,  with  blood  he  seal'd 
A  testament  of  noble-ending  love. 
The  pretty  and  sweet  manner  of  it  forced 
Those  waters  from  me  which  I  would  have  stopp'd ; 
But  I  had  not  so  much  of  man  in  me,  30 

And  all  my  mother  came  into  mine  eyes 
And  gave  me  up  to  tears. 
K.  Hen.  I  blame  you  not ; 

For,  hearing  this.  I  must  perforce  compound 

With  mistful  eyes,  or  they  will  issue  too.       [Alarum. 

But,  hark !   what  new  alarum  is  this  same  ? 

The  French  have  reinforced  their  scatter'd  men : 

Then  every  soldier  kill  his  prisoners ; 

Give  the  word  through.  [Exeunt. 

Scene  VII. 

Another  part  of  the  Held. 

Enter  FlueUen  and  Gower. 

Flu.  Kill  the  poys  and  the  luggage !    'tis  expressly 
against  the  law  of  arms :    'tis  as  arrant  a  piece 

108 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  vii. 

of  knavery,  mark  you  now,  as  can  be  offer't; 
in  your  conscience,  now,  is  it  not  ? 

Goiv.  'Tis  certain  there  's  not  a  boy  left  alive :  and 
the  cowardly  rascals  that  ran  from  the  battle  ha' 
done  this  slaughter:  besides,  they  have  burned 
and  carried  away  all  that  was  in  the  king's  tent ; 
wherefore  the  king,  most  worthily,  hath  caused 
every  soldier  to  cut  his  prisoner's  throat.  O,  lo 
'tis  a  gallant  king  ! 

Flu.  Ay,  he  was  porn  at  Monmouth,  Captain  Gower. 
What  call  you  the  town's  name  where  Alexander 
the  Pig  was  born  ? 

Gow.  Alexander  the  Great. 

Flu.  Why,  I  pray  you,  is  not  pig  great  ?  the  pig,  or 
the  great,  or  the  mighty,  or  the  huge,  or  the 
magnanimous,  are  all  one  reckonings,  save  the 
phrase  is  a  little  variations. 

Cow.  I  think  Alexander  the  Great  was  born  in  Mace-     20 
don :  his  father  was  called  Philip  of  Macedon,  as 
I  take  it. 

Flu.  I  think  it  is  in  Macedon  where  Alexander  is 
porn.  I  tell  you,  captain,  if  you  look  in  the 
maps  of  the  'orld,  I  warrant  you  sail  find,  in  the 
comparisons  between  Macedon  and  Monmouth, 
that  the  situations,  look  you,  is  both  alike.  There 
is  a  river  in  Macedon  ;  and  there  is  also  moreover 
a  river  at  Monmouth :  it  is  called  Wye  at  Mon- 
mouth ;  but  it  is  out  of  my  prains  what  is  the  30 
name  of  the  other  river ;  but  'tis  all  one,  'tis  alike 
as  my  fingers  is  to  my  fingers,  and  there  is  sal- 
mons in  both.  If  you  mark  Alexander's  life  well, 
Harry  of  Monmouth's  life  is  come  after  it  indif- 
109 


Act  IV.  Sc.  vii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

ferent  well;  for  there  is  figures  in  all  things. 
Alexander,  God  knows,  and  you  know,  in  his 
rages,  and  his  furies,  and  his  wraths,  and  his 
cholers,  and  his  moods,  and  his  displeasures, 
and  his  indignations,  and  also  being  a  little  in- 
toxicates in  his  prains,  did,  in  his  ales  and  his  40 
angers,  look  you,  kill  his  best  friend,  Cleitus. 

Gozi'.  Our  king  is  not  like  him  in   that:    he -never 
killed  any  of  his  friends. 

Flu.  It  is  not  well  done,  mark  you  now,  to  take  the 
tales  out  of  my  mouth,  ere  it  is  made  and 
finished.  I  speak  but  in  the  figures  and  com- 
parisons of  it :  as  Alexander  killed  his  friend 
Cleitus,  being  in  his  ales  and  his  cups ;  so  also 
Harry  Monmouth,  being  in  his  right  wits  and  his 
good  judgements,  turned  away  the  fat  knight  50 
with  the  great-belly  doublet:  he  was  full  of 
jests,  and  gipes,  and  knaveries,  and  mocks;  I 
have  forgot  his  name.       « 

Gozc.  Sir  John  Falstaff . 

Flu.  That  is  he :   I  '11  tell  you  there  is  good  men  porn 
at  Alon mouth. 

Gozc.  Here  comes  his  majesty. 

Alarum.     Fntcr  King  Henry  and  forces:    JJ'anvick, 
Gloucester,  Exeter,  and  others. 

K.  Hen.  I  was  not  angry  since  I  came  to  France 
Until  this  instant.    Take  a  trumpet,  herald ; 
Ride  thou  unto  the  horsemen  on  yon  hill :  60 

If  they  will  fight  with  us,  bid  them  come  down, 
Or  void  the  field  ;  they  do  offend  our  sight : 
If  thev  '11  do  neither,  we  will  come  to  them, 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  vii. 

And  make  them  skirr  away,  as  swift  as  stones 
Enforced  from  the  old  Assyrian  slings : 
Besides,  we  '11  cut  the  throats  of  those  we  have. 
And  not  a  man  of  them  that  we  shall  take 
Shall  taste  our  mercy.     Go  and  tell  them  so. 

Enter  Mont  joy. 

Exe.   Here  comes  the  herald  of  the  French,  my  liege. 

GloiL   His  eyes  are  humbler  than  they  used  to  be.  70 

K,  Hen.  How  now!    what  means  this,  herald?    know'st 
thou  not 
That  I  have  fined  these  bones  of  mine  for  ransom  ? 
Comest  thou  again  for  ransom  ? 

Mont.  No,  great  king-: 

I  come  to  thee  for  charitable  license. 
That  we  may  wander  o'er  this  bloody  field 
To  book  our  dead,  and  then  to  bury  them ; 
To  sort  our  nobles  from  our  common  men. 
For  many  of  our  princes — woe  the  while ! — 
Lie  drown'd  and  soak'd  in  mercenary  blood ; 
So  do  our  vulgar  drench  their  peasant  limbs  80 

In  blood  of  princes ;  and  their  wounded  steeds 
Fret  fetlock  deep  in  gore,  and  with  wild  rage 
Yerk  out  their  armed  heels  at  their  dead  masters, 
Killing  them  twice.     O,  give  us  leave,  great  king. 
To  view  the  field  in  safety  and  dispose 
Of  their  dead  bodies  ! 

!<-  Hen.  I  tell  thee  truly,  herald, 

I  know  not  if  the  day  be  ours  or  no ; 
For  yet  a  many  of  your  horsemen  peer 
And  gallop  o'er  the  field. 

Mont.  The  day  is  yours. 

Ill 


Act  IV.  Sc.  vii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

K.  Hen.  Praised  be  God,  and  not  our  strength,  for  it ! 

What  is  this  castle  call'd  that  stands  hard  by?         91 

Mont.  They  call  it  Agincourt. 

K.  Hen.  Then  call  we  this  the  field  of  Agincourt, 
Fought  on  the  day  of  Crispin  Crispianus. 

Fin.  Your  grandfather  of  famous  memory,  an  't  please 
your  majesty,  and  your  great-uncle  Edward  the 
Plack  Prince  of  Wales,  as  I  have  read  in  the 
chronicles,  fought  a  most  prave  pattle  here  in 
France. 

K.  Hen.  They  did,  Fluellen.  lOO 

Fin.  Your  majesty  says  very  true  :  if  your  majesties  is 
remembered  of  it,  the  Welshmen  did  good  service 
in  a  garden  where  leeks  did  grow,  wearing  leeks 
in  their  Monmouth  caps;  which,  your  majesty 
know,  to  this  hour  is  an  honourable  badge  of 
the  service;  and  I  do  believe  your  majesty  takes 
no  scorn  to  wear  the  leek  upon  Saint  Tavy's 
day. 

K.  Hen.  I  wear  it  for  a  memorable  honour ; 

For  I  am  Welsh,  you  know,  good  countryman.       ito 

Fin.  All  the  water  in  Wye  cannot  wash  your  majesty's 
Welsh  plood  out  of  your  pody,  I  can  tell  you 
that :  God  pless  it  and  preserve  it,  as  long  as  it 
pleases  his  grace,  and  his  majesty  too! 

K.  Hen.  Thanks,  good  my  countryman. 

Flu.  By  Jeshu,  I  am  your  majesty's  countryman,  I 
care  not  who  know  it ;  I  will  confess  it  to  all 
the  'orld :  I  need  not  to  be  ashamed  of  your 
majesty,  praised  be  God,  so  long  as  your  majesty 
is  an  honest  man.  120 

K.  Hen.  God  keep  me  so  !     Our  heralds  go  with  him  : 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  vii. 

Bring  me  just  notice  of  the  numbers  dead 
On  both  our  parts.    Call  yonder  fellow  hither. 
[Points  to  IVilliams,     Exeunt  Heralds  zvith  Montjoy. 

Exc.  Soldier,  you  must  come  to  the  king. 

K.  Hen.  Soldier,  why  wearest  thou  that  glove  in  thy 
cap? 

IVill.  An  't  please  your  majesty,  'tis  the  gage  of  one 
that  I  should  fight  withal,  if  he  be  alive. 

K.  Hen.  An  Englishman  ? 

Will.  An  't  please  your  majesty,  a  rascal  that  130 
swaggered  with  me  last  night ;  who,  if  alive 
and  ever  dare  to  challenge  this  glove,  I  have 
sworn  to  take  him  a  box  o'  th'  ear :  or  if  I  can 
see  my  glove  in  his  cap,  which  he  swore,  as  he 
was  a  soldier,  he  would  wear  if  alive,  I  will 
strike  it  out  soundly. 

K.  Hen.  What  think  you,  Captain  Fluellen  ?  is  it  fit 
this  soldier  keep  his  oath  ? 

Flu.  He  is  a  craven  and  a  villain  else,  an  't  please  your 

majesty,  in  my  conscience.  140 

A'.  Hen.  It  may  be  his  enemy  is  a  gentleman  of  great 
sort,  quite  from  the  answer  of  his  degree. 

Flu.  Though  he  be  as  good  a  gentleman  as  the  devil  is, 
as  Lucifer  and  Belzebub  himself,  it  is  necessary, 
look  your  grace,  that  he  keep  his  vow  and  his 
oath :  if  he  be  perjured,  see  you  now,  his  reputa- 
tion is  as  arrant  a  villain  and  a  Jacksauce,  as  ever 
his  black  shoe  trod  upon  God's  ground  and  his 
earth,  in  my  conscience,  la ! 

K.  Hen.  Then  keep  thy  vow,  sirrah,  when  thou  meet-   150 
est  the  fellow. 

Will.  So  I  will,  my  liege,  as  I  live. 

113 


Act  IV.  Sc.  vii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

K.  Hen.  Who  servest  thou  under  ? 

Will.  Under  Captain  Gower,  my  Uege. 

Flu.  Govv^er  is  a  good  captain,  and  is  good  knowledge 
and  hteratured  in  the  wars. 

K.  Hen.  Call  him  hither  to  me,  soldier. 

Will.  I  will,  my  liege.  •  [Exit. 

K.  Hen.  Here,  Fluellen ;    wear  thou  this  favour  for 

me  and  stick  it  in  thy  cap :  when  Alengon  and  i6o 
myself  were  down  together,  I  plucked  this  glove 
from  his  helm  :  if  any  man  challenge  this,  he  is  a 
friend  to  Alengon,  and  an  enemy  to  our  person ; 
if  thou  encounter  any  such,  apprehend  him,  an 
thou  dost  me  love. 

Fin.  Your  grace  doo's  me  as  great  honours  as  can  be 
desired  in  the  hearts  of  his  subjects  :  I  would  fain 
see  the  man,  that  has  but  two  legs,  that  shall  find 
himself  aggriefed  at  this  glove  ;  that  is  all ;  but 
I  would  fain  see  it  once,  an  't  please  God  of  his  170 
grace  that  I  might  see. 

K.  Hen.  Knowest  thou  Gower? 

Fin.  He  is  my  dear  friend,  an  't  please  you. 

K.  Hen.  Pray  thee,  go  seek  him,  and  bring  him  to  my 
tent. 

Flu.  I  will  fetch  him.  [Exit. 

K.  Hen.  My  lord  of  Warwick,  and  my  brother  Gloucester, 
Follow  Fluellen  closely  at  the  heels : 
The  glove  which  I  have  given  him  for  a  favour 
May  haply  purchase  him  a  box  o'  th'  ear;  180 

It  is  the  soldier's ;   I  by  bargain  should 
Wear  it  myself.    Follow,  good  cousin  Warwick : 
If  that  the  soldier  strike  him,  as  I  judge 
By  his  blunt  bearing  he  v/ill  keep  his  word, 

114 


KING  HENRY  V,  Act  IV.  Sc.  viii. 

Some  hidden  mischief  may  arise  of  it ; 

For  I  do  know  Fkiellen  vaHant, 

And,  touch'd  with  choler,  hot  as  gunpowder, 

And  quickly  will  return  an  injury: 

Follow,  and  see  there  is  no  harm  between  them. 

Go  you  with  me,  uncle  of  Exeter.  [Exeunt. 

Scene  VIII. 

Before  King  Henry's  pavilion. 
Enter  Goiver  and  Williams. 
Will.  I  warrant  it  is  to  knight  you,  captain. 

Enter  Flnellen. 

Flu.  God's  will  and  his  pleasure,  captain,  I  beseech 

you  now,  come  apace  to  the  king :   there  is  more 

good  toward  you  peradventure  than  is  in  your 

knowledge  to  dream  of. 
Will.  Sir,  know  you  this  glove? 
Fill.  Know  the  glove !    I  know  the  glove  is  a  glove. 
Will.  I  know  this ;   and  thus  I  challenge  it. 

[Strikes  Jiivi. 
Flu.  'Sblood !  an  arrant  traitor  as  any  is  in  the  universal 

world,  or  in  France,  or  in  England !  lo 

Gozv.  How  now,  sir  !  you  villain  ! 
Will.  Do  you  think  I  '11  be  forsworn  ? 
Flu.  Stand  away.  Captain  Gower ;  I  will  give  treason 

his  payment  in  plows,  I  warrant  you. 
Will.  I  am  no  traitor. 
Flu.  That 's  a  lie  in  thy  throat,     I  charge  you  in  his 

majesty's  name,  apprehend  him  ;  he  's  a  friend  of 

the  Duke  Alen(;on's. 

IIS 


Act  IV.  Sc.  viii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Enter  JJ'arzi'ick  and  Gloucester. 

War.  How  now,  how  now !   what 's  the  matter  ? 

Flu.  My  Lord  of  Warwick,  here  is — praised  be  God     20 
for  it ! — a  most  contagious  treason  come  to  hght, 
look  you,  as  you  shall  desire  in  a  summer's  day. 
Here  is  his  majesty. 

Enter  King  Henry  and  Exeter. 

K.  Hen.  How  now  !   what  's  the  matter? 

Flu.  My  liege,  here  is  a  villain  and  a  traitor,  that, 
look  your  grace,  has  struck  the  glove  which  your 
majesty  is  take  out  of  the  helmet  of  Alengon. 

Will.  My  liege,  this  was  my  glove;  here  is  the 
fellow  of  it ;  and  he  that  I  gave  it  to  in  change 
promised  to  wear  it  in  his  cap :  I  promised  to  30 
strike  him  if  he  did:  I  met  this  man  with  my 
glove  in  his  cap,  and  I  have  been  as  good  as  my 
word. 

Flu.  Your  majesty  hear  now,  saving  your  majesty's 
manhood,  what  an  arrant,  rascally,  beggarly, 
lousy  knave  it  is :  I  hope  your  majesty  is  pear 
me  testimony  and  witness,  and  will  avouchment, 
that  this  is  the  glove  of  Alengon,  that  your 
majesty  is  give  me ;  in  your  conscience,  now. 

K.  Hen.  Give  me  thy  glove,   soldier:    look,  here  is     40 
the  fellow  of  it. 

'Twas  I,  indeed,  thou  promised'st  to  strike ; 
And  thou  hast  given  me  most  bitter  terms. 

Flu.  And  please  your  majesty,  let  his  neck  answer 
for  it,  if  there  is  any  martial  law  in  the  world. 

K.  Hen.  How  canst  thou  make  me  satisfaction? 

116 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  IV.  Sc.  viii. 

irm.  All  offences,  my  lord,  come  from  the  heart: 
never  came  any  from  mine  that  might  offend  your 
majesty. 

K.  Hen.  It  was  ourself  thou  didst  abuse.  50 

Will.  Your  majesty  came  not  like  yourself:  you 
appeared  to  me  but  as  a  common  man  ;  witness 
the  night,  your  garments,  your  lowliness ;  and 
what  your  highness  suft'ered  under  that  shape, 
I  beseech  you  to  take  it  for  your  own  fault  and 
not  mine :  for  had  you  been  as  I  took  you  for, 
I  made  no  offence ;  therefore,  I  beseech  your 
highness,  pardon  me. 

K.  Hen.  Here,  uncle  Exeter,  fill  this  glove  with  crowns. 
And  give  it  to  this  fellow.     Keep  it,  fellow  ;  60 

And  wear  it  for  an  honour  in  thy  cap 
Till  I  do  challenge  it.    Give  him  the  crowns : 
And,  captain,  you  must  needs  be  friends  with  him. 

Flu.  By  this  day  and  this  light,  the  fellow  has  mettle 
enough  in  his  belly.  Hold,  there  is  twelve  pence 
for  you ;  and  I  pray  you  to  serve  God,  and  keep 
you  out  of  prawls,  and  prabbles,  and  quarrels, 
and  dissensions,  and,  I  warrant  you,  it  is  the 
better  for  you. 

Will.   I  will  none  of  your  money.  70 

Flu.  It  is  with  a  good  will ;  I  can  tell  you,  it  will 
serve. you  to  mend  your  shoes:  come,  wherefore 
should  you  be  so  pashful?  your  shoes  is  not  so 
good :  'tis  a  good  silling,  I  warrant  you,  or  I  will 
change  it. 

Enter-  an  English  Herald. 

K.  Hen.  Now,  herald,  are  the  dead  number'd? 
Her.  Here  is  the  number  of  the  slaughter'd  French. 

117 


Act  IV.  Sc.  viii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

K.  Hen.  What  prisoners  of  good  sort  are  taken,  uncle? 

Exc.  Charles  Duke  of  Orleans,  nephew  to  the  king ; 

John  Duke  of  Bourbon,  and  Lord  Bouciqiialt :        80 
Of  other  lords  and  barons,  knights  and  squires. 
Full  fifteen  hundred,  besides  common  men. 

K.  Hen.  This  note  doth'fell  me  of  ten  thousand  French 
That  in  the  field  lie  slain :   of  princes,  in  this  number, 
And  nobles  bearing  banners,  there  lie  dead 
One  hundred  twent^'  six :  added  to  these, 
Of  knights,  esquires,  and  gallant  gentlemen. 
Eight  thousand  and  four  hundred ;   of  the  which, 
Five  hundred  were  but  yesterday  dubb'd  knights : 
So  that,  in  these  ten  thousand  they  have  lost,  90 

There  are  but  sixteen  hundred  mercenaries  ; 
The  rest  are  princes,  barons,  lords,  knights,  squires, 
And  gentlemen  of  blood  and  quality. 
The  names  of  those  their  nobles  that  lie  dead : 
Charles  Delabreth,  high  constable  of  France ; 
Jaques  of  Chatillon,  admiral  of  France ; 
The  master  of  the  cross-bows,  Lord  Rambures  ; 
Great   Master   of   France,   the   brave   Sir   Guichard 

Dolphin, 
John  Duke  of  Alengon,  Anthony  Duke  of  Brabant, 
The  brother  to  the  Duke  of  Burgundy,  100 

And  Edward  Duke  of  Bar :  of  lusty  earls, 
Grandpre  and  Roussi,  Fauconberg  and  Foix, 
Beaumont  and  Marie,  Vaudemont  and  Lestrale. 
Here  was  a  royal  fellowship  of  death ! 
Where  is  the  number  of  our  English  dead  ? 

[Herald  shezi'S  him  another  paper. 
Edward  the  Duke  of  York,  the  Earl  of  Suffolk, 
Sir  Richard  Ketly,  Davy  Gam,  esquire : 
118 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  V.  Prologue 

None  else  of  name ;    and  of  all  other  men 

But  five  and  twenty.     O  God,  thy  arm  was  here ; 

And  not  to  us,  but  to  thy  arm  alone,  no 

Ascribe  we  all.     When,  without  stratagem, 

But  in  plain  shock  and  even  play  of  battle, 

Was  ever  known  so  great  and  little  loss 

On  one  part  and  on  th'  other  ?     Take  it,  God, 

For  it  is  none  but  thine ! 

Exe.  'Tis  wonderful ! 

K.  Hoi.  Come,  go  we  in  procession  to  the  village : 
And  be  it  death  proclaimed  through  our  host 
To  boast  of  this  or  take  that  praise  from  God 
Which  is  his  only. 

Flu.  Is  it  not  lawful,  an  't  please  your  majesty,  to  tell  120 
how  many  is  killed? 

K.  Hoi.  Yes,  captain  ;    but  with  this  acknowledgement. 
That  God  fought  for  us. 

Flu.  Yes,  my  conscience,  he  did  us  great  good. 

K.  Hen.  Do  we  all  holy  rites ; 

Let  there  be  sung  '  Non  nobis  '  and  '  Te  Deum  ' ; 
The  dead  with  charity  enclosed  in  clay : 
And  then  to  Calais ;    and  to  England  then ; 
Where  ne'er  from  France  arrived  more  happy  men. 

\_Exenut. 

ACT   FIFTH. 

Prologue. 

Enter  CJiorus. 

Chor.  Vouchsafe  to  those  that  have  not  read  the  story, 
That  I  may  prompt  them  :   and  of  such  as  have, 
I  humbly  pray  them  to  admit  the  excuse 

119 


Act  V.  Prologue  THE  LIFE  OF 

Of  time,  of  numbers  and  due  course  of  things, 

Which  cannot  in  their  huge  and  proper  Ufe 

Be  here  presented.     Now  we  bear  the  king 

Toward  Calais :   grant  him  there ;   there  seen, 

Heave  him  away  upon  your  winged  thoughts 

Athwart  the  sea.     Behold,  the  English  beach 

Pales  in  the  flood  with  men,  with  wives  and  boys,  lo 

Whose  shouts  and  claps  out-voice  the  deep-mouth'd  sea. 

Which  like  a  mighty  whifller  'fore  the  king 

Seems  to  prepare  his  way :   so  let  him  land, 

And  solemnly  see  him  set  on  to  London. 

So  swift  a  pace  hath  thought,  that  even  now 

You  may  imagine  him  upon  Blackheath ; 

Where  that  his  lords  desire  him  to  have  borne 

His  bruised  helmet  and  his  bended  sword 

Before  him  through  the  city:   he  forbids  it, 

Being  free  from  vainness  and  self-glorious  pride ;  20 

Giving  full  trophy,  signal  and  ostent 

Quite  from  himself  to  God.     But  now  behold, 

In  the  quick  forge  and  working-house  of  thought, 

How  London  doth  pour  out  her  citizens ! 

The  mayor  and  all  his  brethren  in  best  sort. 

Like  to  the  senators  of  the  antique  Rome, 

With  the  plebeians  swarming  at  their  heels. 

Go  forth  and  fetch  their  conquering  Caesar  in : 

As,  by  a  lower  but  loving  likelihood. 

Were  now  the  general  of  our  gracious  empress,      30 

As  in  good  time  he  may,  from  Ireland  coming,^ 

Bringing  rebellion  broached  on  his  sword. 

How  many  would  the  peaceful  citv  quit. 

To  welcome  him  !  much  more,  and  much  more  cause, 

Did  they  this  Harry.     Now  in  London  place  him ; 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

As  yet  the  lamentation  of  the  French 
Invites  the  King  of  England's  stay  at  home ; 
The  emperor's  coming  in  behalf  of  France, 
To  order  peace  between  them  ;  and  omit 
All  the  occurrences,  whatever  chanced,  40 

Till  Harry's  back  return  again  to  France : 
There  must  we  bring  him ;  and  myself  have  play'd 
The  interim,  by  remembering  you  'tis  past. 
Then  brook  abridgement,  and  your  eyes  advance. 
After  your  thoughts,  straight  back  again  to  France. 

[Exit. 

Scene  1. 

France.     The  English  camp. 
Enter  Fluellen  and  Gozver. 

G01V.   Nay,   that 's   right ;    but   why   wear  you   your 
leek  to-day  ?    Saint  Davy's  day  is  past. 

Elii.  There  is  occasions  and  causes  why  and  where- 
fore in  all  things :  I  will  tell  you,  asse  my  friend. 
Captain  Gower :  the  rascally,  scauld,  beggarly, 
lousy,  pragging  knave,  Pistol,  which  you  and 
yourself  and  all  the  world  know  to  be  no  petter 
than  a  fellow,  look  you  now,  of  no  merits,  he 
is  come  to  me  and  prings  me  pread  and  salt 
yesterday,  look  you,  and  bid  me  eat  my  leek :  it  10 
was  in  a  place  where  I  could  not  breed  no  con- 
tention with  him ;  but  I  will  be  so  bold  as  to 
wear  it  in  my  cap  till  I  see  him  once  again,  and 
then  I  will  tell  him  a  little  piece  of  my  desires. 

Enter  Pistol. 
Gow.  Why,  here  he  comes,  swelling  like  a  turkey-cock. 

121 


Act  V.  Sc.  i.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Flu.  'Tis  no  matter  for  his  swellings  nor  his  turkey- 
cocks.  God  pless  you,  Aunchient  Pistol !  you 
scurvy,  lousy  knave,  God  pless  you. 

Pist.  Ha !  art  thou  bedlam?  dost  thou  thirst,  base  Trojan, 
To  have  me  fold  up  Parca's  fatal  web  ?  20 

Hence !   I  am  qualmish  at  the  smell  of  leek. 

Pill.  I  peseech  you  heartily,  scurvy,  lousy  knave,  at 
my  desires,  and  my  requests,  and  my  petitions, 
to  eat,  look  you,  this  leek :  because,  look  you, 
you  do  not  love  it,  nor  your  affections  and  your 
appetites  and  your  digestions  doo's  not  agree 
with  it,  I  would  desire  you  to  eat  it. 

Pist.  Not  for  Cadwallader  and  all  his  goats. 

Pill.  There   is   one   goat    for   you.      [Strikes   him.] 

Will  you  be  so  good,  scauld  knave,  as  eat  it  ?  30 

Pist.  Base  Trojan,  thou  shalt  die. 

Flu.  You  say  very  true,  scauld  knave,  when  God's 
will  is :  I  will  desire  you  to  live  in  the  mean 
time,  and  eat  your  victuals :  come,  there  is  sauce 
for  it.  [Strikes  him.]  You  called  me  yesterday 
mountain-squire ;  but  I  will  make  you  to-day 
a  squire  of  low  degree.  I  pray  you,  fall 
to :  if  you  can  mock  a  leek,  you  can  eat  a 
leek. 

Gozi'.  Enough,  captain  :   you  have  astonished  him.  40 

Flu.  I  say,  I  will  make  him  eat  some  part  of  my  leek, 
or  I  will  peat  his  pate  four  days.  Bite,  I  pray 
you ;  it  is  good  for  your  green  wound  and  your 
ploody  coxcomb. 

Pist.  Must  I  bite  ? 

Flu.  Yes,   certainly,   and   out  of   doubt   and   out   of 
question  too,  and  ambiguities. 
122 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  V.  Sc.  i. 

Pist.  By  this  leek,  I  will  most  horribly  revenge :  I 
eat  and  eat,  I  swear — 

Flu.  Eat,  I  pray  you  :  will  you  have  some  more  sauce     50 
to  your  leek?   there  is  not  enough  leek  to  swear 
by. 

Pist.  Quiet  thy  cudgel ;   thou  dost  see  I  eat. 

Flu.  Much  good  do  you,  scauld  knave,  heartily. 
Nay,  pray  you,  throw  none  away ;  the  skin  is 
good  for  your  broken  coxcomb.  When  you 
take  occasions  to  see  leeks  hereafter  I  pray  you, 
mock  at  'em ;  that  is  all. 

Pist.  Good. 

Flu.  Ay,  leeks  is  good :   hold  you,  there  is  a  groat  to     60 
heal  your  pate. 

Pist.  Me  a  groat ! 

Flu.  Yes,  verily  and  in  truth,  you  shall  take  it ;  or  I 
have  another  leek  in  my  pocket,  which  you  shall 
eat. 

Pist.  I  take  thy  groat  in  earnest  of  revenge. 

Flu.  If  I  owe  you  any  thing,  I  will  pay  you  in 
cudgels :  you  shall  be  a  woodmonger,  and  buy 
nothing  of  me  but  cudgels.  God  b'  wi'  you, 
and  keep  you,  and  heal  your  pate.  [Exit.     70 

Pist.  All  hell  shall  stir  for  this. 

Go7v.  Go,  go ;  you  are  a  counterfeit  cowardly  knave. 
Will  you  mock  at  an  ancient  tradition,  begun 
upon  an  honourable  respect,  and  worn  as  a 
memorable  trophy  of  predeceased  valour,  and 
dare  not  avouch  in  your  deeds  any  of  your  words  ? 
I  have  seen  you  gleeking  and  galling  at  this 
gentleman  twice  or  thrice.  You  thought,  because 
he  could  not  speak  English  in  the  native  garb, 

123 


Act  V.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

he  could  not  therefore  handle  an  English  cudgel :     80 
you    find    it    otherwise ;     and    henceforth    let    a 
Welsh    correction    teach    you    a    good    English 
condition.    Fare  ye  well.  [ExiL 

Pist.  Doth  Fortune  play  the  huswife  with  me  now  ? 
News  have  I,  that  my  Doll  is  dead  i'  the  spital 
Of  malady  of  France ; 
And  there  my  rendezvous  is  quite  cut  off. 
Old  I  do  wax ;  and  from  my  weary  limbs 
Honour  is  cudgelled.    Well,  bawd  I  11  turn, 
And  something  lean  to  cutpurse  of  quick  hand.        90 
To  England  will  I  steal,  and  there  I  '11  steal : 
And  patches  will  I  get  unto  these  cudgell'd  scars, 
And  swear  I  got  them  in  the  Gallia  wars.  [Exit. 

Scene  II. 

France.    A  royal  palace. 

Enter, at  one  door.  King  Henry,  Exeter,  Bedford,  Glouces- 
ter, Warzvick,  Westmoreland,  and  other  lords;  at 
another,  the  French  King,  Queen  Isabel,  the  Princess 
Katharine,  Alice,  and  other  Ladies;  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy,  and  his  train. 

K.  Hen.  Peace  to  this  meeting,  wherefore  we  are  met ! 
Unto  our  brother  France,  and  to  our  sister, 
Health  and  fair  time  of  day ;   joy  and  good  wishes 
To  our  most  fair  and  princely  cousin  Katharine ; 
And,  as  a  branch  and  member  of  this  royalty, 
By  whom  this  great  assembly  is  contrived, 
We  do  salute  you,  Duke  of  Burgundy ; 
And,  princes  French,  and  peers,  health  to  you  all ! 

Fr.  King.  Right  joyous  are  we  to  behold  your  face, 

124 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  V.  Sc.  ii. 

Most  worthy  brother  England;   fairly  met:  lo 

So  are  you,  princes  English,  every  one. 

Q.  Isa.  So  happy  be  the  issue,  brother  England, 
Of  this  good  day  and  of  this  gracious  meeting, 
As  we  are  now  glad  to  behold  your  eyes; 
Your  eyes,  which  hitherto  have  borne  in  them 
Against  the  French,  that  met  them  in  their  bent. 
The  fatal  balls  of  murdering  basilisks: 
The  venom  of  such  looks,  we  fairly  hope. 
Have  lost  their  quality,  and  that  this  day 
Shall  change  all  griefs  and  quarrels  into  love.         20 

K.  Hoi.  To  cry  amen  to  that,  thus  w^e  appear. 

Q.  Isa.  You  English  princes  all,  I  do  salute  you. 

Bur.    INIy  duty  to  you  both,  on  equal  love. 

Great  Kings  of  France  and  England!     That  I  have 

labour'd. 
With  all  my  wits,  my  pains  and  strong  endeavours. 
To  bring  your  most  imperial  majesties 
Unto  this  bar  and  royal  interview, 
Your  mightiness  on  both  parts  best  can  witness. 
Since  then  my  office  hath  so  far  prevail'd 
That,  face  to  face  and  royal  eye  to  eye,  30 

You  have  congreeted,  let  it  not  disgrace  me, 
If  I  demand,  before  this  royal  view. 
What  rub  or  what  impediment  there  is. 
Why  that  the  naked,  poor  and  mangled  Peace, 
Dear  nurse  of  arts,  plenties  and  joyful  births, 
Should  not  in  this  best  garden  of  the  world, 
Our  fertile  France,  put  up  her  lovely  visage  ? 
Alas,  she  hath  from  France  too  long  been  chased, 
And  all  her  husbandry  doth  lie  on  heaps. 
Corrupting  in  its  owm  fertility.  40 

125 


Act  V.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Her  vine,  the  merry  cheerer  of  the  heart, 
Unpruned  dies;   her  hedges  even-pleach'd, 
Like  prisoners  wildly  overgrown  with  hair, 
Put  forth  disorder'd  twigs;   her  fallow  leas" 
The  darnel,  hemlock  and  rank  fumitory 
Doth  root  upon,  while  that  the  coulter  rusts 
That  should  deracinate  such  savagery; 
The  even  mead,  that  erst  brought  sweetly  forth 
The  freckled  cowslip,  burnet  and  green  clover, 
Wanting  the  scythe,  all  uncorrected,  rank,  .    50 

Conceives  by  idleness,  and  nothing  teems 
But  hateful  docks,  rough  thistles,  kecksies,  burs. 
Losing  both  beauty  and  utility. 
And  as  our  vineyards,  fallows,  meads  and  hedges, 
Defective  in  their  natures,  grow  to  wildness, 
Even  so  our  houses  and  ourselves  and  children 
Have  lost,  or  do  not  learn  for  want  of  time. 
The  sciences  that  should  become  our  country; 
But  grow  like  savages, — as  soldiers  will 
That  nothing  do  but  meditate  on  blood, —  60 

To  swearing  and  stern  looks,  dififused  attire 
And  every  thing  that  seems  unnatural. 
Which  to  reduce  into  our  former  favour 
You  are  assembled:    and  my  speech  entreats 
That  I  may  know  the  let,  why  gentle  Peace 
Should  not  expel  these  inconveniences 
And  bless  us  with  her  former  qualities. 
K.  Hen.  If,  Duke  of  Burgundy,  you  would  the  peace. 
Whose  want  gives  growth  to  the  imperfections 
Which  you  have  cited,  you  must  buy  that  peace    70 
With  full  accord  to  all  our  just  demands; 
Whose  tenours  and  particular  effects 
126 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  V.  Sc.  ii. 

You  have  enschecluled  briefly  in  your  hands. 

Bur,  The  king  hath  heard  them  ;  to  the  which  as  yet 
There  is  no  answer  made. 

K.  Hen.  Well  then  the  peace, 

Which  you  before  so  urged,  lies  in  his  answer. 

Fr.  King.  I  have  but  with  a  cursorary  eye 

O'erglanced  the  articles :   pleaseth  your  grace 

To  appoint  some  of  your  council  presently 

To  sit  with  us  once  more,  with  better  heed  80 

To  re-survey  them,  we  will  suddenly 

Pass  our  accept  and  peremptory  answer. 

K.  Hen.  Brother,  we  shall.    Go,  uncle  Exeter, 

And  brother  Clarence,  and  you,  brother  Gloucester, 
Warwick  and  Huntingdon,  go  with  the  king ; 
And  take  with  you  free  power  to  ratify, 
Augment,  or  alter,  as  your  wisdoms  best 
Shall  see  advantageable  for  our  dignity. 
Any  thing  in  or  out  of  our  demands ; 
And  we  '11  consign  thereto.    Will  you,  fair  sister,    90 
Go  with  the  princes,  or  stay  here  with  us  ? 

Q.  Isa.  Our  gracious  brother,  I  will  go  with  them  : 
Haply  a  woman's  voice  may  do  some  good,  . 
When  articles  too  nicely  urged  be  stood  on. 

K.  Hen.  Yet  leave  our  cousin  Katharine  here  with  us : 
She  is  our  capital  demand,  comprised 
Within  the  fore-rank  of  our  articles. 

O.  Isa.  She  hath  good  leave. 

[Exeunt  all  except  Henry,  Katharine,  and  Alice. 

K.  Hen.  Fair  Katharine,  and  most  fair, 

Will  you  vouchsafe  to  teach  a  soldier  terms 
Such  as  will  enter  at  a  lady's  ear  100 

And  plead  his  love-suit  to  her  gentle  heart? 
127 


Act  V.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Katli.  Your  majesty  shall  mock  at  me  ;  I  cannot  speak 
your  England. 

K.  Hen.  O  fair  Katharine,  if  you  will  love  me  soundly 
with  your  French  heart,  I  will  be  glad  to  hear 
you  confess  it  brokenly  with  your  English  tongue. 
Do  you  like  me,  Kate  ? 

Kath.  Pardonnez-moi,  I  cannot  tell  vat  is  '  like  me.' 

K.  Hen.  An  angel  is  like  you,  Kate,  and  you  are  like 

an  angel.  no 

Kath.  Que  dit-il  ?  que  je  suis  semblable  a  les  anges? 

Alice.  Oui,  vraiment,  sauf  votre  grace,  ainsi  dit-il. 

K.  Hen.  I  said  so,  dear  Katharine;  and  I  must  not 
blush  to  affirm  it. 

Kath.  O  bon  Dieu !  les  langues  des  hommes  sont 
pleines  de  tromperies. 

K.  Hen.  What  says  she,  fair  one?  that  the  tongues 
of  men  are  full  of  deceits  ? 

Alice.  Oui,  dat  de  tongues  of  de  mans  is  be  full  of 

deceits  :   dat  is  de  princess.  120 

K.  Hen.  The  princess  is  the  better  Englishwoman. 
r  faith,  Kate,  my  wooing  is  fit  for  thy  under- 
standing: I  am  glad  thou  canst  speak  no  better 
English ;  for,  if  thou  couldst,  thou  wouldst  find 
me  such  a  plain  king  that  thou  wouldst  think  I 
had  sold  my  farm  to  buy  my  crown.  I  know 
no  ways  to  mince  it  in  love,  but  directly  to  say 
'  I  love  you  ' :  then  if  you  urge  me  farther  than 
to  say  '  Do  you  in  faith  ?  '  I  wear  out  my  suit. 
Give  me  your  answer;  i'  faith,  do:  and  so  clap  130 
hands  and  a  bargain  :  how  say  you,  lady  ? 

Kath.   Sauf  votre  honneur,  me  understand  veil. 

K.  Hen.  Marry,  if  you  would  put  me  to  verses  or  to 

128 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  V.  Sc.  ii. 

dance  for  your  sake,  Kate,  why  you  undid  me: 
for  the  one,  I  have  neither  words  nor  measure, 
and  for  the  other,  I  have  no  strength  in  measure, 
yet  a  reasonable  measure  in  strength.     If  I  could 
win  a  lady  at  leap-frog,  or  by  vaulting  into  my 
saddle  with  my  armour  on  my  back,  under  the 
correction  of  bragging  be  it  spoken,   I  should   140 
quickly  leap  into  a  wife.     Or  if  I  might  bufifet 
for  my  love,  or  bound  my  horse  for  her  favours, 
I  could  lay  on  like  a  butcher  and  sit  like  a  jack- 
an-apes,  never  off.     But,  before  God,   Kate,   I 
cannot  look  greenly  nor  gasp  out  my  eloquence, 
nor   I   have  no  cunning  in   protestation:    only 
downright  oaths,  which  I  never  use  till  urged, 
nor  never  break  for  urging.     If  thou  canst  love 
a  fellow  of  this  temper,  Kate,  whose  face  is  not 
worth  sun-burning,  that  never  looks  in  his  glass  150 
for  love  of  any  thing  he  sees  there,  let  thine  eye 
be  thy  cook.  '  I  speak  to  thee  plain  soldier :    if 
thou  canst  love  me  for  this,  take  me ;   if  not,  to 
say  to  thee  that  I  shall  die.  is  true ;   but  for  thy 
love,  by  the  Lord,  no ;  yet  I  love  thee  too.     And 
while  thou  livest,  dear  Kate,  take  a  fellow  of 
plain  and  uncoined  constancy ;    for  he  perforce 
must  do  thee  right,  because  he  hath  not  the  gift 
to  woo  in  other  places :    for  these  fellows  of  in- 
finite  tongue,   that  can   rhyme  themselves   into  160 
ladies'  favours,  they  do  always  reason  themselves 
out  again.     What!   a  speaker  is  but  a  prater;   a 
rhyme  is  but  a  ballad.     A  good  leg  will  fall;   a 
straight  back  will  stoop;  a  black  beard  will  turn 
white ;  a  curled  pate  will  grow  bald ;   a  fair  face 
129 


Act  V.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

will  wither;  a  full  eye  will  wax  hollow:  but  a 
good  heart,  Kate,  is  the  sun  and  the  moon ;  or, 
rather,  the  sun,  and  not  the  moon ;  for  it  shines 
bright  and  never  changes,  but  keeps  his  course 
truly.  If  thou  would  have  such  a  one,  take  me;  170 
and  take  me,  take  a  soldier;  take  a  soldier,  take 
a  king.  And  what  sayest  thou  then  to  my  love? 
speak,  my  fair,  and  fairly,  I  pray  thee. 

Kath.  Is  it  possible  dat  I  sould  love  de  enemy  of 
France? 

K.Hcn.  Xo;  it  is  not  possible  you  should  love  the 
enemy  of  France,  Kate:  but,  in  loving  me  > 
you  should  love  the  friend  of  France;  for  I 
love  France  so  well  that  I  will  not  part  with  a 
village  of  it;  I  will  have  it  all  mine:  and,  180 
Kate,  when  France  is  mine  and  I  am  yours, 
then  yours  is  France  and  you  are  mine. 

Kath.  I  cannot  tell  vat  is  dat. 

K.  Hen.  No,  Kate?  I  will  tell  thee  in  French; 
which  I  am  sure  will  hang  upon  my  tongue  like 
a  new-married  wife  about  her  husband's  neck, 
hardly  to  be  shook  off.  Je  quand  sur  le  posses- 
sion de  France,  et  quand  vous  avez  le  possession 
de  moi, — let  me  see,  what  then?  Saint  Denis 
be  my  speed ! — done  votre  est  France  et  vous  190 
etes  mienne.  It  is  as  easy  for  me,  Kate,  to 
conquer  the  kingdom  as  to  speak  so  much  more 
French :  I  shall  never  move  thee  in  French, 
unless  it  be  to  laugh  at  me. 

Kath.  Sauf  votre  honneur,  le  Francois  que  vous 
parlez,  il  est  meilleur  que  TAnglois  lequel  je 
parle. 

130 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  V.  Sc.  ii. 

K.  Hen.  No,  faith,  is  't  not,  Kate :   but  thy  speaking 
of  my  tongue,  and  I  thine,  most  truly-falsely, 
must  needs  be  granted  to  be  much  at  one.     But,  200 
Kate,  dost  thou  understand  thus  much  EngHsh, 
canst  thou  love  me  ? 

Kath.  I  cannot  tell. 

K.  Hen.  Can  any  of  your  neighbours  tell,  Kate  ?  I  '11 
ask  them.  Come,  I  know  thou  lovest  me :  and 
at  night,  when  you  come  into  your  closet,  you  '11 
question  this  gentlewoman  about  me  ;  and  I  know, 
Kate,  you  will  to  her  dispraise  those  parts  in  me 
that  you  love  with  your  heart :  but,  good  Kate, 
mock  me  mercifully;  the  rather,  gentle  princess,  210 
because  I  love  thee  cruelly.  If  ever  thou  beest 
mine,  Kate,  as  I  have  a  saving  faith  within  me 
tells  me  thou  shalt,  I  get  thee  with  scambling, 
and  thou  must  therefore  needs  prove  a  good 
soldier-breeder:  shall  not  thou  and  I,  between 
Saint  Denis  and  Saint  George,  compound  a  boy, 
half  French,  half  English,  that  shall  go  to  Con- 
stantinople and  take  the  Turk  by  the  beard? 
shall  we  not  ?  what  sayest  thou,  my  fair  flower- 
de-luce  ?  220 

Kath.  I  do  not  know  dat. 

K.  Hen.  No ;  'tis  hereafter  to  know,  but  now  to 
promise:  do  but  now  promise,  Kate,  you  will 
endeavour  for  your  French  part  of  such  a  boy; 
and  for  my  English  moiety  take  the  word  of  a 
king  and  a  bachelor.  How  answer  you,  la  plus 
belle  Katharine  du  monde,  mon  tres  cher  et 
devin  deesse? 

Kath.  Your  majestee  ave  fausse  French  enough  to 

131 


Act  V.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

deceive  de  most  sage  demoiselle  dat  is  en  230 
France. 
K.  Hen.  Now,  fie  upon  my  false  French !  By  mine 
honour,  in  true  English,  I  love  thee,  Kate :  by 
which  honour  I  dare  not  swear  thou  lovest  me ; 
yet  my  blood  begins  to  flatter  me  that  thou  dost, 
notwithstanding  the  poor  and  untempering  effect 
of  my  visage.  Now,  beshrew  my  father's  am- 
bition !  he  was  thinking  of  civil  wars  when  he 
got  me :  therefore  was  I  created  with  a  stubborn 
outside,  with  an  aspect  of  iron,  that,  when  I  240 
come  to  woo  ladies,  I  fright  them.  But,  in  faith, 
Kate,  the  elder  I  wax,  the  better  I  shall  appear : 
my  comfort  i^  that  old  age,  that  ill  layer  up  of 
beauty,  can  do  no  more  spoil  upon  my  face :  thou 
hast  me,  if  thou  hast  me,  at  the  worst ;  and  thou 
shalt  wear  me,  if  thou  wear  me,  better  and 
better  :  and  therefore  tell  me,  most  fair  Katharine, 
w411  you  have  me  ?  Put  off  your  maiden  blushes  ; 
avouch  the  thoughts  of  your  heart  with  the  looks 
of  an  empress :  take  me  by  the  hand,  and  say  250 
'  Harry  of  England,  I  am  thine  ' :  which  word 
thou  shalt  no  sooner  bless  mine  ear  withal,  but 
I  will  tell  thee  aloud  '  England  is  thine,  Ireland 
is  thine,  France  is  thine,  and  Henry  Plantagenet 
is  thine  ' ;  who,  though  I  speak  it  before  his  face, 
if  he  be  not  fellow  with  the  best  king,  thou  shalt 
find  the  best  king  of  good  fellows.  Come,  your 
answer  in  broken  music ;  for  thy  voice  is  music 
and  thy  English  broken  ;  therefore,  queen  of  all, 
Katharine,  break  thy  mind  to  me  in  broken  260 
English,  wilt  thou  have  me? 

132 


KING  HENRY  V.  Act  V.  Sc.  ii. 

Kath.  Dat  is  as  it  sail  please  de  roi  mon  pere. 

K.  Hen.  Nay,  it  will  please  him  well,  Kate ;  it  shall 
please  him,  Kate. 

Kath.  Den  it  sail  also  content  me. 

K.  Hen.  Upon  that  I  kiss  your  hand,  and  1  call  you 
my  queen. 

Kath.  Laissez,  mon  seigneur,  laissez,  laissez :   ma  foi, 
je  ne  veux  point  que  vousabaissiez  votregrandeur 
en   baisant   la  main   d'une   de   votre  seigneurie  270 
indigne  serviteur ;  excusez-moi,  je  vous  supplie, 
mon  tres-puissant  seigneur. 

K.  Hen.  Then  I  will  kiss  your  lips,  Kate. 

Kath.  Les  dames  et  demoiselles  pour  etre  baisees 
devant  leur  noces,  il  n'est  pas  la  coutume  de 
France. 

K.  Hen.  Madam  my  interpreter,  what  ^ays  she  ? 

Alice.  Dat  it  is  not  be  de  fashion  pour  les  ladies  of 
France, — I  cannot  tell  vat  is  baiser  en  Anglish. 

K.  Hen.  To  kiss.  '  280 

Alice.  Your  majesty  entendre  bettre  que  moi. 

A'.  Hen.  It  is  not  a  fashion  for  the  maids  in  France 
to  kiss  before  they  are  married,  would  she  say  ? 

Alice.  Oui,  vraiment. 

K.  Hen.  O  Kate, nice  customs  courtsey  to  great  kings. 
Dear  Kate,  you  and  I  cannot  be  confined  within 
the  weak  list  of  a  country's  fashion :  we  are  the 
makers  of  manners,  Kate;  and  the  liberty  that 
follows  our  places  stops  the  mouth  of  all  find- 
faults  ;  as  I  will  do  yours,  for  upholding  the  nice  290 
fashion  of  your  country  in  denying  me  a  kiss : 
therefore,  patiently  and  yielding.  [Kissing  her.] 
You  have  witchcraft  in  your  lips,  Kate:    there 

133 


Act  V.  Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

is  more  eloquence  in  a  sugar  touch  of  them  than 
in  the  tongues  of  the  French  council ;  and  they 
should  sooner  persuade  Harry  of  England  than 
a  general  petition  of  monarchs.  Here  comes 
your  father. 

Re-enter  the  French  King  and  his  Queen,  Burgundy, 
and  other  Lords. 

Bur.  God  save  your  majesty!  my  royal  cousin,  teach 

you  our  princess  English  ?  300 

K.  Hen.  I  would  have  her  learn,  my  fair  cousin, 
how  perfectly  I  love  her;  and  that  is  good 
English. 

Bur.  Is  she  not  apt? 

K.  Hen.  Our  tongue  is  rough,  coz,  and  my  condition 
is  not  smooth  :  so  that,  having  neither  the  voice 
nor  the  heart  of  flattery  about  me,  I  cannot  so 
conjure  up  the  spirit  of  love  in  her,  that  he  will 
appear  in  his  true  likeness. 

Bur.  Pardon  the  frankness  of  my  mirth,  if  I  answer  310 
you  for  that.  If  you  would  conjure  in  her, 
you  must  make  a  circle;  if  conjure  up  love  in 
her  in  his  true  likeness,  he  must  appear  naked 
and  blind.  Can  you  blame  her  then,  being  a 
maid  yet  rosed  over  with  the  virgin  crimson  of 
modesty,  if  she  deny  the  appearance  of  a  naked 
blind  boy  in  her  naked  seeing  self  ?  It  were,  my 
lord,  a  hard  condition  for  a  maid  to  consign  to. 

K.  Hen.  Yet  they  do  wink  and  yield,  as  love  is  blind 

and  enforces.  320 

Bur.  They  are  then  excused,  my  lord,  when  they  see 
not  what  they  do. 

134 


KING  HENRY  V„  Act  V.  Sc.  ii. 

A'.  Hen.  Then,  good  my  lord,  teach  your  cousin  to 
consent  winking. 

Bur.  I  will  wink  on  her  to  consent,  my  lord,  if  you 
will  teach  her  to  know  my  meaning :  for  maids, 
well  summered  and  warm  kept,  are  like  flies  at 
Bartholomew-tide,  blind,  though  they  have  their 
eyes ;  and  then  they  will  endure  handling,  which 
before  would  not  abide  looking  on.  330 

K.  Hen.  This  moral  ties  me  over  to  time  and  a  hot 
summer  ;  and  so  I  shall  catch  the  fly,  your  cousin, 
in  the  latter  end,  and  she  must  be  blind  too. 

Bur.  As  love  is,  my  lord,  before  it  loves. 

A'.  He}i.  It  is  so :  and  you  may,  some  of  you,  thank 
love  for  my  blindness,  who  cannot  see  manv  a 
fair  French  city  for  one  fair  French  maid  that 
stands  in  my  way. 

Fr.  King.  Yes,  my  lord,  you  see  them  perspectively, 

the  cities  turned  into  a  maid  ;    for  they  are  all  340 
girdled  with  maiden  walls  that  war  hath  never 
entered. 

K.  Hen.  Shall  Kate  be  my  wife  ? 

Fr.  King.   So  please  you. 

A'.  Hen.  I  am  content ;  so  the  maiden  cities  you  talk 
of  may  wait  on  her :  so  the  maid  that  stood  in 
the  way  for  my  wish  shall  show  me  the  way  to 
my  will. 

Fr.  King.  We  have  consented  to  all  terms  of  reason. 

K.  Hen.  Is  't  so,  my  lords  of  England  ?  350 

West.  The  king  hath  granted  every  article : 
His  daughter  first,  and  then  in  sequel  all, 
According  to  their  firm  proposed  natures. 

Exe.  Only  he  hath  not  yet  subscribed  this : 

135 


ActV.Sc.  ii.  THE  LIFE  OF 

Where  your  majesty  demands,  that  the  King  of 
France,  having  any  occasion  to  write  for  matter 
of  grant,  shall  name  your  highness  in  this  form 
and  with  this  addition,  in  French,  Notre  tres- 
cher  fils  Henri,  Roi  d'Angleterre,  Heritier  de 
France;  and  thus  in  Latin,  Prseclarissimus  filius  360 
noster  Henricus,  Rex  Angliae,  et  Haeres  Francise. 

Fr.  King.  Nor  this  I  have  not,  brother,  so  denied, 
But  your  request  shall  make  me  let  it  pass. 

K.  Hen.  I  pray  you  then,  in  love  and  dear  alliance, 
Let  that  one  article  rank  with  the  rest ; 
And  thereupon  give  me  your  daughter. 

Fr.  King.  Take  her,  fair  son,  and  from  her  blood  raise  up 
Issue  to  me ;   that  the  contending  kingdoms 
Of  France  and  England,  whose  very  shores  look  pale 
With  envy  of  each  other's  happiness,  370 

May  cease  their  hatred,  and  this  dear  conjunction 
Plant  neighbourhood  and  Christian-like  accord 
In  their  sweet  bosoms,  that  never  war  advance 
His  bleeding  sword  'twixt  England  and  fair  France. 

All.  Amen!  * 

K.  Hen.  Now,  welcome,  Kate  :  and  bear  me  witness  all, 
That  here  I  kiss  her  as  my  sovereign  queen. 

[Flourish. 

Q.  Isa.  God,  the  best  maker  of  all  marriages. 

Combine  your  hearts  in  one,  your  realms  in  one ! 
As  man  and  wife,  being  two,  are  one  in  love,        380 
So  be  there  'twixt  your  kingdoms  such  a  spousal. 
That  never  may  ill  office,  or  fell  jealousy, 
Which  troubles  oft  the  bed  of  blessed  marriage. 
Thrust  in  between  the  paction  of  these  kingdoms. 
To  make  divorce  of  their  incorporate  league ; 
136 


KING  HENRY  V.  Epilogue 

That  English  may  as  French,  French  Englishmen, 
Receive  each  other.     God  speak  this  Amen  ! 

AIL  Amen! 

K.  Hen.  Prepare  we  for  our  marriage :   on  which  day, 
My  Lord  of  Burgundy,  we  '11  take  your  oath,         390 
And  all  the  peers',  for  surety  of  our  leagues. 
Then  shall  I  swear  to  Kate,  and  you  to  me ; 
And  may  our  oaths  well  kept  and  prosperous  be ! 

[Sennet.     Exeunt. 

EPILOGUE. 

Enter  Chorus. 

Chor.  Thus  far,  with  rough  and  all-unable  pen. 

Our  bending  author  hath  pursued  the  story, 
In  little  room  confining  mighty  men. 

Mangling  by  starts  the  full  course  of  their  glory. 
Small  time,  but  in  that  small  most  greatly  lived 

This  star  of  England  :  Fortune  made  his  sword  ; 
By  which  the  world's  best  garden  he  achieved, 

And  of  it  left  his  son  imperial  lord. 
Henry  the  Sixth,  in  infant  bands  crown'd  King 

Of  France  and  England,  did  this  king  succeed;  10 
Whose  state  so  many  had  the  managing, 

That  they  lost  France  and  made  his  England  bleed  : 
Which  oft  cur  stage  hath  shown  ;  and,  for  their  sake, 
In  your  fair  minds  let  this  acceptance  take.         [Exit. 


137 


The  Court  of  Henry  V. 
From  a  MS.  in  Corpus  Christi  College  Library,  Cambridge. 


Glossary. 


A',  he  (Rowe,  "he");  II.  iii. 
II. 

Abounding,  rebounding,  (?)  a 
bounding;  (Quartos,  "abun- 
dant"; Theobald,  "a  bound- 
ing") ;  IV.  iii.  104. 

Abutting,  contiguous;  Pro!.  I. 
21. 

Accept,  acceptance  ( ?  accep- 
ted) ;  V.  ii.  82. 

Accomplishing,  equipping,  giv- 
ing the  finishing  touches  to ; 
Prol.  IV.  12. 

Accompt,  account;   Prol.  I.  17. 

Achievement ;  "  for  a.,"  i.e.  "  in- 
stead of  achieving  a  victor}-  " 


(Malone,    others,    "to    bring 
the  affair  to  a  conclusion  ")  ; 

III.  V.  60. 

Act,    practice,    working;    I.    ii. 

189. 
Addiction,  inclination ;  I.  i.  54 
Addrest,  ready;  III.  iii.  58. 
Admiration,    astonishment;    II. 

ii.  108. 
Advance,   raise,   unfurl;    II.   ii. 

192. 
Advantageable,     advantageous ; 

V.  ii.  88. 
Advantages,  interest,  additions; 

IV.  iii.  50. 
Adventures,  risks;  IV.  i.  117. 


1^8 


THE  LIFE  OF  KING  HENRY  V. 


Glossary 


Advice;  "  on  his  more  a./'  on 
better    consideration ;    II.    ii. 

43- 

Advised;  "  be  a.,"  consider ;  I. 
ii.  251. 

Afeard,  afraid :  IV.  i.  144. 

Affiance,  confidence  ;  II.  ii.  127. 

After,  afterwards ;  IV.  ii.  59. 

All-unable,  very  weak;  Epil.  i. 

All-watched,  spent  in  watch- 
ing; Prol.  IV.  38. 

Ancient,  ensign;  II.  i.  3. 

Annoy,  hurt ;  II.  ii.  102.  ' 

Another,  the  other;  I.  ii.  113. 

Anszver,  be  ready  for  battle;  II. 
iv.  3. 

Antics,  buffoons  (FoHos,  "An- 
tiques ")  ;  III,  ii.  31. 

Apace,  quickly;  IV.  viii.  3. 

Appearance,  sight,  visibleness 
(Folios  I,  2,  "  apparance")  ; 
II.  ii.  76. 

Ap pertinents,       appurtenances ; 

II.  ii.  87. 
Apprehension,  perception;   III. 

vii.  139. 

Approbation,  attestation,  ratifi- 
cation ;  I.  ii.  19. 

Apt,  ready;  II.  ii.  86. 

Arbitrement,  decision;  IV.  i. 
165. 

Argument,    cause    of    quarrel ; 

III.  i.  21  ;  theme,  III.  vii.  37. 
Armour,   suit   of  armour;    III. 

vii.  I. 

Assays,  hostile  attempts  (Ma- 
lone,  "essays")  ;  I.  ii.  151. 

As  were,  as  though  there  were ; 
II.  iv.  20. 

Athwart,  across;  Prol.  V.  9. 

Attaint,  infection;  Prol.  IV.  39. 

Aunchient,  ensign;  V.  i.  17. 


Aunchient  lieutenant  (so  Folios 

I,  2  ;  Folios  3,  4.  "  auncient  "  ; 
Malone  from  Quartos,  "  en- 
sign"); "Ancient,"  Pistol's 
title  according  to  Fluellen ; 
III.  vi.  13. 

Avaunt,  away,  begone;   III.  ii. 

20. 
Azvkward,  unfair;  II.  iv.  85. 

Balls,  (i)  eyeballs,  (2)  can- 
non-balls ;  V.  ii.  17. 

Balm,  consecrated  oil  used  for 
anointing  kings ;  IV.  i.  269. 

Bankrupt  (Folios,  "  banqu'- 
rout ")  ;  IV.  ii.  43. 

Bar,  impediment,  exception  ;  I. 
ii-  35  ;  "  barrier,  place  of  con- 
gress "   (Johnson)  ;  V.  ii.  27. 

Barbason,  the  name  of  a  fiend; 

II.  i.  56. 

Basilisks,  (i)  serpents  who 
were  supposed  to  kill  by  a 
glance;  (2)  large  cannon; 
used  in  both  senses  of  the 
word ;  V.  ii.  17. 


From  an  illuminated  MS.  of  XlVth 
cent. 


139 


Glossary 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Bate,  flap  the  wings,  as  the 
hawk  does  when,  unhooded, 
she  tries  to  fly  at  the  game 
(used  quibblingly)  ;  III.  vii. 
ii6. 

Battle,  army ;  Prol.  IV.  9. 

Bawcock,  a  term  of  endear- 
ment; III.  ii,  24. 

Beaver,  visor  of  a  helmet ;  IV. 
ii.  44. 

Become,  grace ;  I.  ii.  8. 

Before-hreach,  breach  commit- 
ted in  former  time ;  IV.  i.  177. 

Beguiling,  deceiving;  IV.  i.  169. 

Bending,  bending  beneath  the 
burden  of  the  task  (War- 
burton  conj.  "blending") 
Epil.  2. 

Bend  up,  strain  (Hke  a  bow)  ; 
III.  i.  16. 

Bent,  (i)  glance,  (2)  aim;  V. 
ii.  16. 

Beshrew,  a  mild  oath  ;  V.  ii.  237. 

Besmirch'd,  soiled,  stained ;  IV. 
iii.  no. 

Best,  bravest ;  IIL  ii.  38. 

Bestow  yourself,  repair  to  your 
post ;  iV.  iii.  68. 

Blood,    temperament,    passion ; 

II.  ii.  133. 

Bloody,  bloodthirsty;  II.  iv.  51. 
,   "  b.    flag,"   i.e.    signal    of 

bloody  war ;  I.  ii.  loi. 
Bolted,  sifted ;  II.  ii.  137. 
Bonnet,  covering  of  the  head, 

cap;  IV.  i.  218, 
Book,  to  register;  IV.  vii.  76. 
Boot;  "  make  b.,"  make  booty ; 

I.  ii.  194. 
Bootless,  uselessly ;  III.  iii.  24. 
Bottoms,   ships,   vessels ;    Prol. 

III.  12. 


Bound;    "  b.    my    horse,"     i.e. 

make  my  horse  curvet ;  V.  ii. 

142. 
Braggart,       boaster       (Folios, 

"  Braggard")  ;  1 1,  i.  63. 
Brave,    bravely    decked,    finely 

appointed;  Prol.  III.  5. 
Bravely,  making  a  fine   show ; 

IV.  iii.  69. 

Break,  rend.  III.  iii.  40;  dis- 
close, V.  ii.  260. 

Breath,  breathing  time ;  II.  iv. 
145. 

Brim  (used  adjectivally)  ;  I.  ii. 
150.  151. 

Bring,  accompany;  II.  iii.  i.   . 

Broached,  spitted ;  Prol.  V.  2>^. 

Broken  music ;  "  some  instru- 
ments, such  as  viols,  violins, 
flutes,  etc.,  were  formerly 
made  in  sets  of  four,  which, 
when  played  together,  formed 
a  '  consort.'  If  one  or  more 
of  the  instruments  of  one  set 
were  substituted  for  the  cor- 
responding ones  of  another 
set,  the  result  was  no  longer 
a  '  consort,'  but  '  broken 
music'"  (Chappell;  W.  A. 
Wright)  ;  V.  ii.  258. 

Bruised,  battered,  dented  ;  Prol. 

V.  18. 

Bubukles,  a  corruption  of  car- 
buncles (Quartos,  "  p  u  m  - 
pies";  Capell,  " pupuncles")  ; 
III.  vi.  107. 

Buffet,  box;  V.  ii.  141. 

Bully,  dashing  fellow;  IV.  i. 
48. 

Burnet,  the  name  of  a  herb 
(sanguisorba  officinalis)  ;  V, 
ii.  49. 


140 


KING  HENRY  V, 


Glossary 


But,  used  after  a  strong  as- 
severation ;  III.  V,  12. 

Cadivallader,  the  last  of  the 
Welsh  Kings ;  V.  i.  28. 

Capet,  i.e.  Hugh  Capet,  the  an- 
cestor of  the  French  Kings  ; 

I.  ii.  78. 

Capital,  chief;  V.  ii.  96. 

Captived,  taken  captive;  II.  iv. 
55- 

Career,  race  (Folios  i,  2, 
"  Carriere  ")  ;  III.  iii.  23. 

Careers,  gallopings  of  a  horse 
backwards  and  forwards ;  a 
course  run  at  full  speed; 
"  passes  careers  "  probably  == 
"  indulges  in  sallies  of  wit  "  ; 

II.  i.  130. 

Careful,  full  of  care ;  IV.  i.  240. 

Carefully,  "  more'  than  c,"  i.e. 
"  with  more  than  common 
care  "  ;  II.  iv.  2. 

Carry  coals,  pocket  insults;  III. 
ii.  49- 

Case,  set  of  four;  a  musical  al- 
lusion ;  III.  ii.  4. 

Casques,  helmets  (Capell's 
emendation;  Folios  i.  2,  3. 
"  Cashes,"  Folio  4,  "  Cas- 
ket") ;  Prol.  I.  13. 

Casted,  cast,  cast  off;  IV.  i. 
23- 

Cliace,  a  term  in  the  game  of 
tennis ;  a  match  played  at 
tennis ;  I.  ii.  266. 

Chanced,  happened;  Prol.  V. 
40. 

Charge,  load,  burden;  I.  ii.  15. 

Chattels,  goods  generally ;  II. 
iii.  50. 

Cheerly,  cheerfully;  II.  ii.  192. 


Childeric,  the  Merovingian 
king;  I.  ii.  65. 

Choler,  wrath,  anger;  IV.  vii. 
188. 

Christom.  "a  white  vesture  put 
upon  the  child  after  baptism; 
in  the  bills  of  mortality  such 
children  as  died  within  the 
month  were  called  "  chris- 
ums"  (Quartos  i,  3,  "  crys- 
ombd,"  Johnson,  "  c  Ji  r'i  s- 
om  ")  ;  II.  iii.  12. 

Chuck,  a  term  of  endearment ; 
III.  ii.  25. 

Clear  thy  crystals,  "  dry  thine 
eyes  "  ;  II.  iii.  56. 

Close,  cadence,  union  (Folio  2, 
"  close  ")  ;  I.  ii.  182. 

Cloy'd,  surfeited,  satiated ;  II. 
ii.  9. 

Comes  o'er,  reminds,  taunts ;  I. 
ii.  267. 

Companies,  company,  compan- 
ions ;  I.  i.  55. 

Compassing,  obtaining ;  IV.  i. 
303. 

Compelled,  enforced,  exacted ; 
III.  vi.  114. 

Complement,  external  appear- 
ance (Theobald,  "compli- 
ment") ;  II.  ii,  134. 

Compound  with,  come  to  terms 
with;  IV.  vi.  3;^. 

Con,  learnt  by  heart ;  III.,  vi.  78. 

Condition,  temper,  character ; 
V.  ii.  305.' 

Condole,  lament,  sympathize 
with ;  II.  i.  131. 

Conduct ;  "  safe  c,"  escort, 
guard ;  I.  ii.  297. 

Confounded,  ruined,  wasted; 
III.  i.  13. 


141 


Glossary 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Congreeing,  agreeing  (Pope, 
"  Congruing,"  Quartos, 
"  Congrueth  ")  ;  I.  ii.  182. 

Congreeted,  greeted  each  other  ; 
V.  ii.  31. 

Conscience,  inmost  thoughts, 
private  opinion;  IV.  i.  119. 

Consent,  harmony,  a  musical 
term,  I.  ii.  181  ;  unity  of  opin- 
ion, II.  ii.  22. 

Consideration,  meditation,  re- 
flection; I.  i.  28. 

Consign,  agree ;  V.  ii.  90. 

Constant,  unshaken ;  II.  ii.  133. 

Constraint,  compulsion;  II.  iv. 

97. 

Contemplation,  observation;   I. 

i.  63. 
Contrariously,   in    contrary 

ways ;  I.  ii.  206. 
Contrived,  plotted ;   IV.  i.   168. 
Convey  d,  secretly  contrived  to 

pass  off;  I.  ii.  74. 
Convoy,  conveyance ;  IV.  iii.  37. 
Coranto,    a    quick    and    lively 

dance      (Johnson's     emenda- 
tion of  Folios,  "  C arrant 0  ")  ; 

III.  V.  3Z- 
Corroborate     (one    of    Pistol's 

meaningless    words)  ;     II.    i. 

128. 
Conch     down,     crouch     down, 

stoop  down;  IV.  ii.  2>7- 
Coulter,  plough-share    (Folios, 

"  Cutter  ")  ;  V.  ii.  46. 
Counterfeit,  dissembling;  V.  i. 

72. 


Couple  a  gorge!  ^=  cou^t  la 
gorge,  perhaps  merely  Pis- 
tol's blunder;  II.  i,  74. 

Coursing,  hunting  after  booty, 
marauding;  I.  ii.  143. 

Courtsey,  bow,  yield  (Folios, 
"  cursie")  ;  V.  ii.  285. 

Cousin,  used  as  a  title  of  cour- 
tesy ;  I.  ii.  4. 

Coc,  cousin  (Folios, 
"  coiize  ")  ;  IV.  iii.  30. 

Create,  created;  II.  ii.  31. 

Crescive,    growing    (Folios,    i, 

2,  3,    "  cressiue"'.     Folio    4, 
crescive)  ;  I.  i.  66. 

Crispin  Crispian,  two  brothers 
who  suffered  martyrdom  ;  the 
patron  saints  of  shoemakers ; 
IV.  iii.  57. 

Crush' d,  forced,  strained 
(Quartos,  Pope,  "curst,"; 
Warburton,  "  'scus'd")  ;  I.  ii. 

175. 

Cullions,  base  wretches ;  a  term 
of  abuse ;  III.  ii.  21. 

Cunning,  skill ;  V.  ii.  146. 

Currance,  current,  flow  (Fo- 
lio  I,  "  currance  "  ;  Folios  2, 

3,  "  currant "  ;  Folio  4,  "  cur- 
rent") ;  I.  i.  34. 

Cursorary,  cursory  (Folios, 
"  cursel  arie")  ;  V.  ii.  77. 

Curtains,  banners,  used  con- 
temptuously; IV.  ii.  41. 

Curtle-axe,  a  corruption  of  cut- 
lass, a  broad,  curved  sword ; 
IV.  ii.  21. 


A  XVIIth  cent.  Curtle-Ax  (see  I.  iii.  116). 
142 


KING  HENRY  V. 


Glossary 


Dalliance,  trifling,  toying  ; 
Prol.  11.  2. 

Dare,  make  to  crouch  in  fear : 
a  term  of  falconry ;  IV.  ii.  36. 

Dark,  darkness ;  Prol.  IV.  2. 

Dauphin,  the  heir- apparent  to 
the  throne  of  France  (Fo- 
lios, Quartos,  "Dolphin"): 
I.  ii.  221. 

Dear,  grievous ;  II.  ii.  181. 

Defendant,  defensive;  II.  iv.  8. 

Defensible,  capable  of  offering 
resistance;  III.  iii.  50. 

De function,  death;  I.  ii.  58. 

Degree ;  "  of  his  d.."  i.e.  "  of 
one    of   his    rank " ;    IV.    vii. 

143- 

Deracinate,  uproot ;  V.  ii.  47. 

Diffused,  wild,  disordered;  Fo- 
lios I,  2.  "  defus'd")  ;  V.  ii. 
61. 

Digest,  reduce  to  order  (Pope. 
"  well  digest,"  for  "  zve  'II  di- 
gest") ;  Prol.  II.  31. 

Digested,  concocted ;   II.  ii.  56. 

Discuss,  explain ;  III.  ii.  65. 

Dishonest,  immoral,  unchaste 
(so  Holinshed's  2nd  edition  ; 
Capell,  from  Holinshed's  1st 
edition,  "  iinhonest")  ;  I.  ii. 
49. 

Distemper,  mental  derange- 
ment, perturbation;  II.  ii.  54. 

Distressful,  hard  earned  (Col- 
lier MS.,  ''distasteful")  ;  IV. 
i.  279. 

Doiit,  extinguish;  put  out;  IV. 
ii.  II. 

Down-roping,  hanging  down  in 
filaments ;  IV.  ii.  48. 

Drench,  physic  for  a  horse;  III. 
V.  19. 


Dress  us,  address  ourselves, 
prepare  ourselves ;  IV.  i.  10. 

Diilld,  made  insensible  (Fo- 
lios 3,  4,  "lull'd";  Steevens, 
"dol'd");  II.  ii.  9. 

Earnest,  earnest  money,  money 
paid  beforehand  in  pledge  of 
a  bargain ;  II.  ii.  169. 

Eke  out,  piece,  lengthen  out 
(Pope's  emendation.  Folio  i, 
"  ecch ";  Folios  2.  3.  4, 
"  ech")',  Prol.  III.  35- 

Element,  sky ;  IV.  i.  103. 

Embassy,  message,  I.  i.  95; 
mission,  I.  ii.  240. 

Embattled,  arrayed  for  battle; 
IV.  ii.   14. 

Empery,  empire;  I.  ii.  226. 

Emptying,  issue ;  III.  v.  6. 

End,  end  of  matter  (Stee- 
vens, from  Quartos,  "  the  hu- 
mour of  it ")  ;  II.  i.  10. 

English,  i.e.  English  King,  or 
General ;  II.  iv.  i. 

En  glutted,  engulfed,  swallowed 
up ;  IV.  iii.  83. 

Enlarge,  release  from  prison, 
set  at  liberty ;  II.  ii.  40. 

Enozv,  enough  ;  IV.  i.  232. 

Enrounded,  surrounded ;  Prol. 
IV.  36. 

Enscheduled,  formally  drawn 
up  in  writing;  V.  ii.  73. 

Estate,  state;  IV.  i.  96. 

Even,  "the  e.  of  it,"  just  what 
it  is  ;  II.  i.  126. 

Ez'enty,  directly,  in  a  straight 
line  ;  II.  iv.  91. 

Even-pleach' d,  evenly  inter- 
turned  ;  V.  ii.  42. 


143 


Glossary 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Exception,  disapprobation,  ob- 
jections; II.  iv.  34. 

Executors,  executioners;  I.  ii. 
203. 

Exhale,  draw  (according  to 
Steevens,  "  die  ")  ;  II.  i.  65. 

Exhib iters,  the  introducers  of  a 
bill  to  Parliament ;  I.  i.  74. 

Expedience,  expedition;  IV.  iii. 
70. 

Expedition,  march;   IT.  ii.   iqi. 

Faced,  outfaced  (used  quib- 
blingly)  ;  III.  vii.  86. 

Faculty,  latent  power;  I.  i.  66. 

Fain,  gladly,  willingly;  I.  i.  85. 

Fantastically,  capriciously;  II. 
iv.  27. 

Farced,  "  f.  title,"  "  stuffed  out 
with  pompous  phrases  "  (al- 
luding perhaps  to  the  herald 
going  before  the  King  to  pro- 
claim his  full  title)  ;  IV.  i. 
272. 

Fatal  and  neglected,  i.e.  *'  fatal- 
ly neglected  ;  neglected  to  our 
destruction  " ;  II.  iv.  13. 

Favour,  appearance,  aspect ;  V. 
ii.  63. 

Fear'd,  frightened;  I.  ii.  155. 

Fell,  cruel ;  III.  iii.  17. 

Fer,  a  word  (probably  mean- 
ingless) coined  by  Pistol, 
playing  upon  "  Monsieur  le 
Fer  "  ;  IV.  iv.  27. 

Ferret,  worry  (as  a  ferret  does 
a  rabbit)  ;  IV.  iv.  28. 

Fet,  fetched;  III.  i.  18. 

Fetlock,  hair  behind  the  pastern 
joint  of  horses;  IV.  vii.  82. 

Few;  "  in  f."  in  brief,  in  a  few 
words;  I,  ii.  245. 


Figo,  a  term  of  contempt,  ac- 
companied by  a  contemptu- 
ous gesture ;  the  word  and 
habit  came  from  Spain  ; 
hence  "  the  fig  of  Spain " 
(Ornaments  similar  to  the 
one  here  represented  were 
much  favoured  in  the  XVIth 
century)  ;  III.  vi.  59. 


From  an  original  specimen. 

Fig  of  Spain,  possibly  an  allu- 
sion to  the  poisoned  figs  giv- 
en by  Spaniards  to  the  ob- 
jects of  their  revenge  (Stee- 
vens) ;  according  to  others, 
=  figo  ;  III.  vi.  61. 

Find,  furnish,  provide  (Quar- 
tos, Pope,  "fine")  ;  I.  ii.  72. 

Find-faults,  fault-finders ;  V.  ii. 
289. 

Finer  end,  probably  Mrs. 
Quickly's  error  for  "  final 
end  "  ;  II.  iii.  11. 

Firk,  beat,  drub  (Pistol's  cant)  ; 
IV.  iv.  27. 

Fits,  befits,  becomes;  II.  iv.  11. 


144 


KING  HENRY  V. 


Glossary 


Flesh' d,  fed  with  flesh  Hke  a 
hound  trained  for  the  chase. 
II.  iv.  50 ;  hardened  in  blood- 
shed, III.  iii.  II. 

Flexure,  bending;  IV.  i.  264. 

Floods,  rivers;  I.  ii.  45. 

Flowev-de-lucc ,^Q\.\r-([G.-\ys,  the 
emblem  of  France  ;  V.  ii.  219. 

Footed,  landed;  II.  iv.  143. 

For;  "  cold  f.  action,"  i.e.  cold 
for  want  of  action ;  I.  ii. 
114. 

'Fore  God,  before  God,  a  mild 
oath;  II.  ii.  i. 

Forespent,  past;  II.  iv.  36. 

For  us,  as  for  us,  as  regards 
ourself;  II.  iv.  113. 

Fox,  sword;  IV.  iv.  8. 

Fracted,  broken ;  II.  i.  128. 

France,  the  King  of  France ; 
Prol.  II.  20. 

Freely,  liberally;  I.  ii.  231. 

French;  "  the  French  "  =  the 
French  King,  or  general ;  IV. 
iv.  77- 

French  hose,  wide  loose  breech- 
es ;  III.  vii.  55. 

Fret,  chafe;  IV.  vii.  82. 

Friend,  befriend;  IV.  v.  17. 

Fright,  frighten;  V.  ii.  241. 

From ;  "  f .  the  answer "  be- 
yond, above  answering  the 
challenge ;  IV.  vii.  142. 

Full-fraught,  fully  freighted, 
fully  laden  with  all  virtues ; 
II.  ii.  139. 

Fumitory,  the  name  of  a  plant 
(Folios  I,  2,  3,  "  fcmen- 
tary  ")  ;  V.  iii.  45. 

Gage,  pledge;  IV.  i.  217. 
Galled,  worn  away;  III.  i.  12, 


Galliard,    a    nimble    and    lively 

dance ;  I.  ii.  252. 
Galling,    harassing.    I.    ii.    151  ; 

scoffing,  V.  i.  yy. 
Gamester,  player;  III.  vi.  118. 
Garb,  style ;  V.  i.  79. 
Gentle,   make    gentle,    ennoble ; 

IV.  iii.  63. 
Gentles,  gentlefolks;  Prol.  I.  8. 
Gesture,  bearing ;  Prol.  IV.  25. 
Giddy,  hot-brained,  inconstant ; 

I.  ii.   145. 
Gilt,    used    with    a    play    upon 

"  guilt  "  ;   Prol.  II.  26. 
Ginimal  bit,  a  bit  consisting  of 

rings     or     links     (Folios, 

"  lymold")  ;  IV.  ii.  49.   (Cp. 

illustration.) 


From  a  silver  gilt  specimen  in  the 
Londesborough  collection. 

Girded,    enclosed,    besie  g  e  d 
Prol.  III.  27. 

Gleaned,  bare  of  defenders,  un- 
defended ;  I.  ii.  151. 

Gleeking,  scoffing ;  V.  i.  yy. 

Glistering,    glittering,    shining 
II.  ii.  117. 

Glose,  interpret ;  I.  ii.  40. 

Go  about,  attempt;  IV.  i.  208. 


145 


Glossary 


THE  LIFE  OF 


God  before,  befo  re  God  I 
swear;  I.  ii.  307. 

God-den,  good  evening.  I  wish 
good  evening;  III.  ii.  89. 

Good  leave,  permission ;  V.  ii. 
98. 

Gordian  knot,  "  the  celebrated 
knot  of  the  Phrygian  King 
Gordius,  untied  by  Alexan- 
der "  ;  I.  i.  46. 

Grace,  ornament ;   Prol.  II.  28. 

Grant;  "  in  g.  of,"  by  granting; 

II.  iv.  121. 

Grazing  (Folios  2,  3.  4,  "  gras- 
ing";    Folio    i,   "erasing")  ; 

IV.  iii.  105. 

Greenly,    sheepishly,    foolishly; 

V.  ii.  145- 

Groat,  a  coin  worth  four  pence ; 

V.  i.  60. 
Gross,  palpable ;  II.  ii.  103. 
Guidon,       standard        (Folios, 

"Guard:  on")  ;  IV.  ii.  60. 
Gulf,  whirlpool ;  II.  iv.  10. 
Gun-stones,  cannon  balls,  which 

were      originally      made      of 

stone ;  I.  ii.  282. 

Had,  would  have  ;  IV.  i.  289. 
Haggled,  cut,  mangled ;  IV.  vi. 

II. 
Hampton,  Southampton ;  II.  ii. 

91. 
Handkcrchers,     handkerchiefs ; 

III.  ii.  51. 

Handle,  talk  of;  II.  iii.  39. 

Haply,  perhaps,  perchance 
(Folio  I.  "Happily" ;  Folios 
2,  3,  "  Happely")  ;  V.  ii.  93- 

Hard-favour  d,  ugly;  III.  i.  8. 

Hardiness,  hardihood,  bravery ; 
I.  ii.  220. 


HarHeur  (Folios,  "  Harflew  ")  ; 
Prol.  III.  17,  etc. 

Hazard  (technical  term  of  ten- 
nis) ;  I.  ii.  263. 

Head;  "  in  h.,"  in  armed  force ; 
II.  ii.  18. 

Heady,  headstrong  (Folio  i, 
"headly";  Capell  conj. 
"  deadly")  ;  III.  iii.  32. 

Heaps;  "  on  heaps  "  ;  in  heaps  ; 
V.  ii.  39. 

Hearts,  courage,  valour ;  IV.  i. 
301. 

Held,  withheld,  kept  back;  II. 
iv.  94. 

Helm,  helmet ;  IV.  vii.  163. 

Heroical,  heroic;  II.  iv.  39. 

Hilding,  mean,  base  (Prof. 
Skeat  makes  hilding  a  con- 
traction for  Jiildering=^  M.E., 
hinderling  =  base,  degene- 
rate) ;   IV.  ii.  29. 

Hilts,  a  sword;  used  as  singu- 
lar; Prol.  II.  9- 

His,  its;  I.  i.  66. 

Honour-owing,  honourable ; 
IV.  vi.  9. 


From  MS.  Sloane  3794  {temp. 
Elizabeth). 


146 


KING  HENRY  V. 


Glossary 


Hooded;  "  a  h.  valour,"  i.e. 
covered,  hidden  as  the  hawk 
is  hooded  till  it  was  let  fly 
at  the  game ;  a  term  of  fal- 
conry (used  quibblingly)  ; 
III.  vii.  115. 

Hoop,  shout  with  surprise 
(Folios  I,  2,  "  lioope"  ;  Theo- 
bald, "zvJioop");   II.  ii.   108. 

Hound  of  Crete,  ( ?)  blood- 
hound (perhaps  mere  Pis- 
tolian  rant)  ;  II.  i.  76. 

Humorous,  capricious;  II.  iv. 
28. 

Humour,  II.  i.  57,  62,  yz  (used 
by  Nym). 

Husbandry,  thrift,  IV.  i.  7 ; 
tillage.  V.  ii.  39. 

Huszuife,  hussy ;  V.  i.  84. 

Hydra-headed,  alluding  to  the 
many  headed  serpent,  which 
put  forth  new  heads  as  soon 
as  the  others  were  struck 
off;  I.  i.  35. 

Hyperion,  the  god  of  the  Sun 
(Folio  I,  "  Hiperio  ")  ;  IV.  i. 
284. 

Iceland  dog  (v.  Note)  ;  II.  i.  43. 

Ill-f avowedly,  in  an  ugly  man- 
ner ;  IV.  ii.  40. 

Imaginary,  imaginative;  Prol. 
I.  18. 

Imagined ;  "  i.  wing,"  i.e.  the 
wings  of  imagination ;  Prol. 
III.  I. 

Imhar,  (?)  bar,  exclude;  or. 
(?)    secure    {v.  Note);   I.  ii. 

Imp,  scion,  shoot ;  IV.  i.  45. 

Impazvn,  pawn,  pledge;  I.  ii.  21. 

Impeachment,  hindrance;  III. 
vi.  150. 


In,  into ;  I.  ii.  184. 

In,  by  reason  of ;  I.  ii.  193. 

Incarnate,  rrlisunderstood  by 
Mistress  Quickly  for  the  col- 
our, and  confused  with  "  car- 
nation "  ;  II.  iii.  34. 

Inconstant,  fickle;  Prol.  III.  15. 

Indirectly,  wrongfully;  IT.  iv. 
94- 

Infinite,  boundless ;  V.  ii.  159. 

Ingrateful,  ungrateful ;  II.  ii. 
95. 

Inly,  inwardly ;  Prol.  IV.  24. 

Instance,  cause,  motive;  II.  ii. 
119. 

Intendment,  bent,  aim;  I.  ii. 
144. 

Infertissued,  interwoven;  IV.  i. 
271. 

Into,  unto ;   I.  ii.   102. 

Is  (so  Folios  ;  Quartos,  "  are  ") 
=  are  (by  attraction);  I.  ii. 
243- 

Issue,  pour  forth  tears ;  IV.  vi. 
34- 

It,  its;  V.  ii.  40. 

lack-an-apes,    monkey ;     V.    ii. 

143- 
lack-sauce,    Saucy    Jack;     IV. 

vii.  148. 
Jades,   a   term   of  contempt   or 

pity,         for         ill-conditioned 

horses ;  IV.  ii.  46. 
Jealousy,    suspicion,    apprehen- 
sion ;  II.  ii.  126. 
Jewry,  Judea ;    III.   iii.   40. 
Just,    exact,    precise ;    IV.    vii. 

122. 
Jutty,   project    beyond;    III.    i. 

13- 


147 


Glossary 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Kccksics,  dry  hemlock  stems 
(Folios  I,  2,  "  keksycs")  ;  V. 
ii.  52. 

Kern;  "  k.  of  Ireland,"  a  light- 
armed  Irish  soldier;  III.  vii. 
55.  (Cp-  illustration  in 
Richard  1 1.) 

Larding,  enriching,  fattening 
(Collier   MS..   •'Loading")  ; 

IV.  vi.  8. 

Lflfr,  lately  appointed;  II.ii.261. 
Lavolta,   a    walts-likc    kind   of 

dance;  III.  v.  ZZ- 
Lay  apart,  put   ofif,  lay   aside ; 

II.  iv.  78. 
Lay  down,  estimate;  I.  ii.  i37- 
Laaars,       beggars,       especially 

lepers;  I.  i.  15. 
Leas,  arable  land;  V.  ii.  44. 
Legerity,      alacrity,      lightness 

(Folios  3,  4,  "  celerity  ")  ;  IV. 

i.  23. 
Let,  hindrance,  impediment ;  V. 

ii.  65. 
Lief,    gladly,    willingly     (Folio 

I,      "Hue,"      Folios      3,      4. 

"lieve")  ;  III.  vii.  61. 
Lieu,  "  in  1.  of  this,"  i.e.  in  re- 
turn for  this;  I.  ii.  255. 
Lig,  lie;  III.  ii.  123. 
Like,  likely;  I.  i.  3. 
Likelihood,    probability ;     Prol. 

V.  29. 

Likes,  pleases;  Prol.  III.  32. 
Likes  me,  pleases  me ;    IV.  i.  16. 
Line,        pedigree         (Quartos, 

"lines");  II.  iv.  88.  . 
Line,  strengthen;  II.  iv.  7. 
Lineal,   lineally    descended ;    in 

the  direct  line  of  descent ;  I. 

ii.  82. 


Lingare,  Charlemagne's  fifth 
wife   (according  to  Ritson)  ; 

I.  ii.  74- 

Linger  on,  prolong,  draw  out ; 

Prol.  II.  31. 
Linstock,  the  stick  which  holds 

the    gunner's    match ;     Prol. 

List,    boundary,    limit ;    V.    ii. 

287. 

,  listen  to ;  I.  i.  43. 

Lob  dozun,  droop ;  IV.  ii.  47. 
Lodging,     entering     into      the 

fold  ;  III.  vii.  34- 
'Long,        belong        (Folios, 

"  longs")  ;  II.  iv.  80. 
Loosed,  loosened,   shot   off ;    I. 

ii.  207. 
Luxurious,  lustful ;   IV.  iv.   18. 
Luxury,  lust;  III.  v.  6. 

Majestical,  majestic;  Prol.  III. 
16. 

Marches,  borders,  border- 
country  ;  I.  ii.  140. 

Masters,  possesses,  is  master 
of     (Quartos,    "musters ")  ; 

II.  iv.  137. 

Maw,  stomach;  II.  i.  51. 

May,  can;  Prol.  I.  12;  II.  ii. 
100. 

Measure,  dancing  (used  equiv- 
ocally) ;  V.  ii.  137. 

Meet,  seemly,  proper;  II.  iv.  15. 

Meeter,  more  fit ;  I.  ii.  254. 

Mercenary  blood,  blood  of 
mercenaries,  hired  soldiers; 
IV.  vii.  79. 

Mervailous,  one  of  Pistol's 
words  (Folios  3,  4,  "mar- 
vellous") ;  II.  i.  49. 

Mickle,  much,  great ;  II.  i.  69. 


148 


KING  HENRY  V. 


Glossary 


Alight,  could;  IV.  v.  21. 

Mind,  remind;  IV.  iii.   13. 

Minding,  remembering,  calling 
to  mind;  Prol.  IV.  53. 

Miscarry,  die,  perish  ;  IV.  i.  152. 

Miscreatc,  falsely  invented;  I. 
ii.  16. 

Mistful,  blinded  by  tears  (Fo- 
lios, "  mixtful")  ;  IV.  iv.  34. 

Mistook,  mistaken  ;  III.  vi.  84. 

Mistress-court,  suggested  by 
the  game  of  tennis ;  II.  iv. 
133- 

Model,  image;   Prol.  II.   16. 

Monmouth  caps,  "  the  best 
caps  were  formerly  made  at 
Monmouth,  where  the  Cap- 
pers' Chapel  doth  still  re- 
main "  (Fuller's  IVortkies  of 
Wales)  ;    IV.    vii.    104. 


Monmouth  cap. 

From  a  portrait  of  Sir  William  Stanley 

{temp.  Elizabeth). 

Morris-dance,  an  old  dance  on 
festive  occasions,  as  at  Whit- 
suntide ;  the  reason  for  its 
connection  with  "  Moorish  " 
is  not  quite  clear ;  perhaps 
from  the  use  of  the  tabor  as 
an  accompaniment  to  it;  II. 
iv.  25. 


Whitsun  Morris  dance. 
From  a  XVIlth-century  woodcut. 

Mortified,  killed ;  I.  i.  26. 

Mould;  "  men  of  m.,"  men  of 
earth,  poor  mortals;  III.  ii. 
22. 

Mounted  (technical  term  of 
falconry)  ;  IV.  i.  107. 

Moys  ^="  muys,  or  muids" 
(according  to  Cotgrave)  = 
about  five  quarters  English 
measure  ;  27  moys  =  two 
tons  (Donee)  (not  moi  d'or 
as  Johnson  suggested,  a  coin 
of  Portuguese  origin  un- 
known in  Shakespeare's 
time)  ;  IV.  iv.  12. 

Much  at  one,  much  about  the 
same ;  V.  ii.  200. 

Narrow,  "  n.  ocean,"  i.e.  the 
English  Channel ;  Prol.  I.  22. 

Native;  "  n.  punishment,"  i.e. 
inflicted  in  their  own  coun- 
try ;  IV.  i.  173. 

Natural,  consonant  to  nature ; 
II.  ii.  107. 

Net,  specious  sophistry ;  I.  ii. 
93. 

New,  anew ;  IV.  i.  304. 


149 


Glossary 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Xicc,  trivial,  prudish  :  V.  ii.  285. 

Nicely,  sophistically.  I.  ii.  15; 
fastidiously,  V.  ii.  94. 

Noble,  a  gold  coin  of  the  value 
of  six  shillings  and  eight 
pence ;  II.  i.  no. 

Nook-shotten;  "  n.  isle,"  i.e. 
"  Isle  spavined  in  a  corner,  or 
flung  into  a  corner "  (War- 
burton  and  others,  "  an  isle 
shooting  out  into  capes, 
promontories, etc.")  ;  III.v.14. 

Note,  notice,  intelligence,  II.  ii. 
6;  sign,  Prol.  IV.  35. 

Nothing;  "  offer  n.,"  i.e.  no 
violence;  II.  i.  41. 

O ;  "  wooden  O.,"  i.e.  the  Globe 
Theatre,  which  was  of  wood 
and  circular  in  shape  inside, 
though  externally  octago- 
nal ;  the  sign  of  the  Globe 
was  a  figure  of  Hercules  sup- 
porting the  Globe,  with  the 
motto,  "  Totus  mundus  agit 
histrionem  " ;  it  is  difficult  to 
determine  whether  the  name 
suggested  the  sign  or  vice 
versa;  Prol.  I.   13. 


Odds,   discord,   contention;    II. 

iv.  129. 
O'erblozvs,  blows  away;  III.  iii. 

31. 
O'erwhclm,      overhang,      hang 

down  upon ;  III.  i.  11. 
Of,  against    (Quartos,   "on"), 

II.  iii.  29,  31  ;   with,  III.  vii. 

9;  for.  IV.  i.  log. 
On,  of;   V.   ii.  23. 
Ooze,  soft  mud   (Quartos,  Fo- 
lios, "  owse")  ;  I.  ii.  164. 
Order,  arrange;  Prol.  V.  39. 
Ordnance,      cannon       (Folios, 

"Ordinance"  ;  Quartos,  "  or- 

denance");     trisyllabic;     II. 

iv.  126. 
Orisons,  prayers;  II.  ii.  53. 
Ostent,    external    show ;    Prol. 

V.  21. 
Out,   fully,    completely ;    IV.    i. 

166. 
Over-bears,       subdues,       bears 

down :  Prol.  IV.  39. 
Overlook,   rise   above,    overtop 

(Quartos,  "  oiitgroiu")  ;  III. 

V.  9. 
Over-lustv,    too    lively ;     Prol. 

IV.  18. ' 


IT- 

i"l        •t.  J"  tiff'   n^szs^^'Wk""^/^ 

The  Globe  Theatre. 
From  an  early  undated  drawing:  in  the  British  Museum. 

ISO 


KING  HENRY  V. 


Glossary 


Overshot,  beaten  in  shooting, 
put  to  shame ;  III.  vii.  128. 

Paction,  alHance  (Theobald's 
emendation;  Folios  i,  2, 
"  pation";  Folios  3,  4,  "pas- 
sion ");Y.  ii.  384. 

Paly,  pale ;  Prol.  IV.  8. 

Paper;  "  thy  cheeks  are  p.,"  i.e. 
white  as  paper,  pale  ;   II.  ii.  74. 

Parca,  one  of  the  three  Fates 
who  spin  the  threads  of  life ; 
V.  i.  21. 

Parle,  parley ;  III.  iii.  2. 

Parley,  conference  ;  III.  ii.  146. 

Part,  aside ;  I.  i.  y^i- 

Parts,  divisions  in  music ;  I.  ii. 
181,  from  Holinshed. 

Pass,  passage;  Prol.  II.  39. 

Passes,  V.  "  careers." 

Pasterns,  legs  (Folio  i,  "pos- 
tures") ;  III.  vii.   13. 

Paiica,  in  few  words ;  II.  i.  82. 

Pax,  a  mistake  for  "  pix,"  the 
box  containing  the  conse- 
crated host  ("  pax  "  =  the 
small  piece  of  wood  or  metal, 
impressed  with  the  figure  of 
Christ,  which  the  laity 
kissed)  (Quartos,  "  packs  "  ; 
Theobald,  from  Holinshed, 
"pix")  ;  III.  vi.  42. 

Pay,  repay,  requite ;  IV.  i.  205. 

Peer,  appear ;  IV.  vii.  88. 

Peevish,   foolish;   III.   vii.    136. 

Pepin,  "  King  P.,"  the  founder 
of  the  Carlovingian  dynasty ; 
I.  ii.  65. 

Perdition,  loss;  III.  vi.  102. 

Perdurable,  lasting;  IV.  v.  7. 

Perdy,  par  Dieu,  by  God;  II.  i. 
51- 


Peremptory,  decisive ;  V.  ii.  82. 

Perforce,  of  necessity ;  V.  ii, 
157. 

Perspectively,  as  in  a  perspec- 
tive picture;  V.  ii.  339. 

Pharamond,  a  King  of  the 
Franks ;  I.  ii.  ^y. 

Pibhle  pabble,  idle  prattle  ;  IV. 
i.  71. 

Pioners,  pioneers;  III.  ii.  91. 

Pitch  and  pay,  a  proverbial  say- 
ing, =  "  pay   ready   money  "  ; 

II.  iii.  51. 

Pith,  force,  strength;  Prol.  III. 

21. 
Plain-song,   simple  air  without 

variations;    a   musical    term; 

III.  ii.  6. 

Play,  play  for ;  Prol.  IV.  19. 

Pleasant,  merry,  facetious;  I. 
ii.  281. 

Pleaseth,  may  it  please  ;  V.  ii. "/%. 

Poison'd,  poisonous ;  IV.  i.  260. 

Policy;  "cause  of  p.,"  political 
question  ;  I.  i.  45. 

Popular,  vulgar,  plebeian ;  IV. 
i.  38. 

Popularity,  publicity;  I.  i.  59. 

Port,  deportment,  carriage ; 
Prol.  I.  6. 

Portage,  porthole ;  "  p.  of  the 
head,"  i.e.  eye ;  III.  i.  10. 

Possess,  affect,  fill;  IV.  i.  iii. 

Practic,  practical ;  I.  i.  51. 

Practices,  plots ;  II.  ii.  90. 

Precepts,  commands,  sum- 
mons ;  III.  iii.  26. 

Preposterously,  against  the  nat- 
ural order  of  things ;  II.  ii. 
112. 

Prescript,  prescribed;  III.  vii. 
48. 


ISI 


Glossary 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Presence;  "  in  p.,"  present ;  II. 

iv.  III. 
Present,  immediate;   11.  iv.  67. 
Presenteth,       shews       (Folios, 

"  Presented  ")  \  Prol.  IV.  27. 
Presently,  immediately,  now,  at 

once ;   II.  i.  92. 
Prey;    "  in    p./'    in    search    of 

prey;  I.  ii.  169. 
Prize,  estimate,  rate;  II.  iv.  119. 
Proeeeding  on,  caused  by ;   II. 

ii.54._ 
Projection,    plain     calculation ; 

II.  iv.  46. 

Proportion,  be  proportioned  to  ; 

III.  vi.  133. 
Proportions,  calculation,  neces- 
sary numbers ;  I.  ii.  137. 

Puissance,  power,  armed  force ; 

Prol.  L  25. 
Puissant,  powerful,  valiant;   1. 

ii.  116. 

Qnaltitie    calmie    custure    me! 

IV.  iv.  3   {vide  Note). 

Question,  discussion ;  I.  i.  5. 

Quick,  alive,  living ;  II.  ii.  79. 

Quit,  acquit;  II.  ii.  166. 

Quittance,  requital,  recom- 
pense; II.  ii.  34. 

Quotidian  tertian,  Mrs.  Quick- 
ly's  confusion  of  quotidian 
fever  {i.e.  marked  by  daily 
paroxysms),  and  tertian  fe- 
ver {i.e.  marked  by  parox- 
ysms recurring  every  three 
days)  ;  II.  i.  122. 

Raughf,  reached  (Folios  3,  4, 
"caught")  ;  IV.  vi.  21. 

Razvly,  without  due  provision  ; 
IV.  i.  143. 


Reduce,  reconduct,  bring  back; 

V.  ii.  63. 
Relapse  of  mortality,  a  rebound 

of  death ;   IV.  iii.    107. 
Remenihcring,    reminding; 

Prol.  V.  43. 
Rendezvous,     one     of     Nym's 
» blunders     (Folios     i,     2,     3, 

''  rendeuous")  ;  II.  i.  17. 
Renoivncd,  made  renowned;  I. 

ii.  118. 
Repent,  regret ;  II.  ii.  152. 
Requiring,  asking;  II.  iv.  101. 
Resolved,  satisfied;  I.  ii.  4. 
Respect,  reason,  consideration; 

V.  i.  74. 
Rest,  resolve   (=  stake,  wager; 

technical    term     of    the    old 

game  of  primers  )  ;  II.  i.  16. 
Retire,  retreat ;  IV.  iii.  86. 
Returns,  answers;  III.  iii.  46. 
Rheumatic,       Mrs.       Quickly's 

blunder  for  lunatic ;  II.  iii.  40. 
Rim,  midriff;  IV.  iv.  13. 
Rites,    ceremonies,    sacred    ob- 

servances  (Folios, 

"Rights")  ;    IV.    viii.    125. 
Rivage,  sea-shore  ;  Prol.  III.  14. 
Road,  inroad,  incursions ;  I.  ii. 

138. 
Robustious,     sturdy;     III.     vii. 

153- 
Root  upon, tRkerooi'm;  V.ii.46. 
Roping,  hanging  down;   III.  v. 

23- 
Round ;    "  too    r.,"    too    plain- 
spoken  ;  IV.  i.  212. 
Rub,     hindrance,     impediment; 

II.  ii.  188. 

Sad-eyed,  grave-looking;   I.  ii. 
202. 


152 


KING  HENRY  V. 


Glossary 


Safeguard,  defend,  keep  safe ; 
I.  ii.  1/6. 

Saliquc ;  "  the  law  s.,"  the  law 
appertaining  to  the  Salic 
tribe  of  the  Franks  which 
excluded  females  from  suc- 
ceeding to  the  throne  ;  I.  ii.  II. 

Sand,  sand-bank ;  IV.  i.  97. 

Satisfaction,  conviction  (Pope 
reads  from  Hall,  "  posses- 
sion") ;  I.  ii.  88. 

Savagery,  wild  growth ;   V.   ii. 

47. 

'Sblood,  a  corruption  of  God's 
blood ;  IV.  viii.  9. 

Scaffold,  stage;  Prol.  I.  10. 

Scambling,  scrambling,  turbu- 
lent, I.  i.  4;  struggling.  V.  ii. 

213. 
Scions,   originally    small    twigs 

from  one   tree   grafted   upon 

another    (Folios.   "Syens"); 

III.  V.  7- 
Sconce,  earthwork;  III.  vi.  7S- 
Seat,  throne;  I.  i.  88. 
Security,    over-confidence;     II. 

ii.  44. 
Self,  self-same ;  I.  i.  i. 
Set,  set  out;  Prol.  II.  34. 
Severals,  details ;  I.  i.  86. 
Shales,  shells;  IV.  ii.  18. 
She,  woman ;  II.  i.  82. 
Shog  off,  jog  off.  move  off;  a 

cant  term ;  II.  i.  47. 
Shozvs,  appearance ;  I.  ii.  72. 
Shows,  appears;   IV.  i.  103. 
Shrewdly,   viciously;     III.    vii. 

51. 

Signal,  symbol  of  victory ; 
Prol.  V.  21. 

Signs  of  war,  standards,  en- 
signs;   II.    ii.    192. 


Silken,  effeminate ;  Prol.  II.  2. 

Sinfully,  in  a  state  of  sin;  IV. 
i.  152. 

Sinister,  unfair ;  II.  iv.  85. 

Skirr,  scurry,  move  rapidly 
(Folios,  "sker")  ;  IV.  vii.  64. 

Slips,  leash ;  III.  i.  31. 

Slobbery,  wet  and  foul  (Quar- 
tos, "foggy")  ;  III.  V.  13. 

Slovenry,  slovenliness,  want  of 
neatness ;  IV.  iii.  114. 

Snatchers,  pilferers,  free-boot- 
ers  (Quartos,  "sneakers")  ; 
I.  ii.  143. 

Soft,  gentle,  tender-hearted ; 
III.  iii.  48. 

Sonance,  sound  (Folios,  "  Son- 
uance")  ;  IV.  ii.  35. 

Sooth,  truth;  III.  vi.  150. 

Sort,  rank,  degree,  IV.  vii.  142 ; 
style,  array,  Prol.  V.  25. 

Sorts,  various  ranks  (Quar- 
tos, Theobald,  ''  sort  "  ;  Col- 
lier MS.,  "state";  Keightly, 
"all  sorts")  ;  I.  ii.  190. 

Sorts,  agrees,  fits;  IV.  i.  63. 

Soul;  "  thy  s.  of  adoration," 
the  quintessence  of  the  ado- 
ration you  enjoy  (Folio  i, 
"  What?  is  thy  Soule  of 
Odorationf")  ;  IV.  i.  254. 

Speculation,  looking  on;  IV.  ii. 

31- 

Spend ;  "  s.  their  mouths "  ; 
waste,  a  term  of  the  chase, 
II.  iv.  70;  III.  iii.  24. 

Spiritualty,  the  spiritual  peers, 
the  clergy  (Folios  3,  4^ 
"Spirituality")  ;  I.  ii.  132. 

Spital,  hospital ;  II.  i.  77. 

Sprays,  branches,  shoots;  III. 
V.  5- 


153 


Glossary 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Staines,  first  stage  on  the  road 
from  London  to  Southamp- 
ton;    II.   iii.    2. 

Stands  off,  stand  out,  be  prom- 
inent (Folios  2,  3,  4,  "stand 
off")  ;    II.   ii.    103. 

Starts ;  "  by  s.,"  by  fits,  "  by  a 
fragmentary  representation  "  ; 
Epil.  4. 

Stay,  wait ;  IV.  ii.  56. 

Sternage;  "  to  s.  of,"  astern  of; 
Prol.  III.   18. 

Still,    continually,    incessant!}'; 

I.  ii.  145. 

Stilly,  softly;  Prol.  IV.  5. 

Stood  on,  insisted  upon;  V.  ii. 
94. 

Stoop,  a  term  of  falconry ;  a 
hawk  is  said  "  to  stoop," 
when,  "  aloft  upon  her  wing, 
she  descends  to  strike  her 
prey  "  ;  IV.  i.  108. 

StraigJit,  straightway,  at  once; 

II.  ii.  191. 

Strain,  stock,  race;  II.  iv.  51. 

Stretch,  open  wide ;  II.  li.  55. 

Strossers;  "  straight  str.," 
tight  breeches  (Theobald, 
"  trossers  "  ;  Hanmer,  "  trous- 
sers")  ;  III.  vii.  56. 

Struck,  fought ;  II.  iv.  54. 

Subscribed,  signed ;   V.  ii.  354. 

Succours ;  "  of  s.,"  for  suc- 
cour (Rowe,  "of  zvJwm 
succours")  ;  III.  iii.  45, 

Suddenly,  soon,  quickly;  V.  ii. 
8r. 

Sufferance ;  "by  his  s.,"  by  his 
being  suffered  to  go  unpun- 
ished ;  II.  ii.  46. 

,  suffering  the  penalty;  II. 

ii.  159. 


Suggest,  tempt,   seduce ;   II.   ii. 

114- 
Sumless,  inestimable;  I.  ii.  165. 
Supply ;    "  for    the    which    s.," 

for    the     supply    of    which ; 

Prol.  I.  31. 
Sur-rein'd,       over-ridden, 

knocked  up  ;  III.  v.  19. 
Sutler,    a    seller    of    provisions 

and  liquors  to  a  camp;  II.  i. 

114- 
Swashers,  bullies ;  III.  ii.  29. 
Swelling,  growing  in   interest ; 

Prol.  I.  4. 
Szviird    zvith,    greedily    gulped 

down  by ;  III.  i.  14. 
Sivorn  brothers,  bosom  friends, 

pledged  comrades;  II.  i.  12. 
Sympathize    with,    agree    with, 

resemble;  III.  vii.  152. 

Take,  take  fire  (Quartos,  Ca- 
pell,  "talk"),  II.  i.  54;  catch, 
meet,  IV.  i.  228. 

Tall,  valiant,  brave;  II.  i.  71. 

Tartar,   Tartarus,   hell ;    II.   iii. 

123. 
Taste,  experience;  II.  ii.  51. 
Taste,  feel,  experience ;  IV.  vii. 

68. 
Teems,  brings  forth;  V.  ii.  51. 
Tell;  "I  cannot  tell,"  I  do  not 

know  what  to  say ;  II.  i.  21. 
Temper,  disposition ;  V.  ii.  149. 
Temper  d,     moulded,     wrought 

upon,  influenced;  II.  ii.  118. 
Tender,  have  a  care  for;  II.  ii. 

175- 
Ten  ours,       purport        (Folios, 

"Tenures");    V.    ii.    7-- 
That,  so  that ;  I.  i.  47. 
Theoric,  theory ;  I.  i.  52. 


154 


KING  HENRY  V. 


Glossary 


Threadcn,     made     of     thread; 

Prol.  III.  10. 
Tiddle  taddlc,  tittle-tattle;   IV. 

i.  71. 
Tike,  cur ;  11.  i.  30. 
To,  against,  11.  i.  12;  as,  Prol. 

III.  30;  for,  III.  vii.  60. 
To-morroiv ;  "  on  t.,"  i.e.  on  the 

morrow,  in  the  morning;  III. 
vi.    180. 

Treasuries,  treasures;  I.  ii.  165. 

Troth-plight,  troth-plighted,  be- 
trothed ;  II.  i.  20. 

Trumpet,  trumpeter;  IV.  ii.  61  ; 

IV.  vii.  59. 

Tucket,  a   set  of  notes  on  the 

cornet ;  IV.  ii.  35. 
Tzvay,  twain,  two;  III.  ii.  127. 

Umber  d,  darkened  as  by 
brown  ochre  (here  probably 
the  effect  of  the  fire-light  on 
the  faces  of  the  soldiers)  ; 
Prol.  IV.  9. 

Uncoined ;  "  u.  constancy,"  i.e. 
which  like  an  unimpressed 
plain  piece  of  metal,  has  not 
yet  become  current  coin ;  V. 
ii.  157. 

Undid,  would  undo;  V.  ii.  134. 

Unfiirnish'd,  left  undefended ; 
I.  ii.  148. 

Unprovided,  unprepared ;  IV.  i. 
181. 

Unraised,  wanting  in  aspira- 
tion ;  Prol.  I.  9. 

Untempering,  unsoftening;  V. 
i.  236. 

Upon,  at,  I.  i.  91  ;  by,  IV.  i.  19. 

Urn,  grave;  I.  ii.  228. 


Vainness,  vanity;  Prol.  V.  20. 


Vasty,  vast,  Prol.  I.  12;  II.  ii. 

123. 
Vaultages,  vaulted  rooms,  cav- 
erns;  II.  iv.  124. 
Vaward,  vanguard ;  IV.  iii.  130. 
Venge    me,   avenge   myself;    I. 

ii.  292. 
Venture,    run    the    hazard    of ; 

(Folio    I,    "venter");    I.    ii. 

192. 
Vigil,  the  eve  of  a  festival ;  IV. 

iii.  45. 
l^oice,  vote  ;  II.  ii.  113. 
Void,  quit;  IV.  vii.  62. 
Vulgar,  common  soldiers ;   IV. 

vii.  80. 

Wafer-cakes ;  "'  men's  faiths 
are  w., ;  i.e.  "  Promises  are 
like  pie  crust  " ;  II.  iii.  53. 

War-proof,  valour  tried  in 
war;  III,  i.  18. 

Watchful  fires,  watch-fires ; 
Prol.  IV.  23. 

Waxen,  easily  effaced,  perish- 
able     (Quartos,     "paper")', 

I.  ii.  233. 

What   though,   what   does   that 

matter ;  II.  i.  8. 
Wherefore,  for  which;  V.  ii.  i, 
Wheresome'er,       wheresoever ; 

II.  iii.  7. 

JVhUHer,  an  officer  who  went  in 
front  of  a  procession  (orig- 
inally, a  afer  who  preceded 
an  army  or  a  procession)  ; 
Prol.  V.  12. 

White-livered,  cowardly ;  III. 
ii.  32. 

Wight,  man.  person  (one  of 
Pistol's  words)  ;  II.  i.  63. 

Willing,  desiring;  II.  iv.  90. 


155 


Glossary 


Jl'ills,  wishes,  desires  ;   II.  iv.  77. 
JVink,  shut  my  eyes;  II.  i.  7. 
IVink'd  at,  connived  at;  II.  ii. 

55. 
Winking,  with  their  eyes  shut ; 

III.  vii.  147. 
Withal,  with;  III.  v.  2. 
Woe    the   while!    alas    for   the 

time!  IV.  vii.  78. 
Womhy,  hollow,  capacious;  II. 

iv.  124. 
Wooden    dagger,   a    dagger    of 

lath   was   usually   carried   by 

the  Vice  in  the  old  morality 

plays ;  IV.  iv.  74. 
Word,     motto      (Rowe     from 


Quartos  i,  3;  Folios,  Quarto 

2,  "  world  ")  ;  II.  iii.  51. 
Wots,  knows;  IV.  i.  291. 
Would,   would   have,   Prol.   IL 

18 ;  desire,  V.  ii.  68. 
Wringing,  suffering,  pain ;   IV. 

i.  245. 
Writ,  written;  I.  ii.  98. 

Yearn,  grieve  (Folios  i,  2, 
"  erne " ;  Folios  3,  4, 
"yern")\  II.  iii.  3;  yearns, 
grieves ;  IV.  iii.  26. 

Yerk,  jerk;  IV.  vii.  83. 

Yoke-fellows,  companions;  II. 
iii.  56. 


The  marriage  of  Henry  V.  and  Katharine  of  France. 
(From  the  MS.  Cott.  Jul.  E.  iv.) 

156 


Richard  II.  knighting  Harry  Monmouth  (afterwards  Henry  V.). 
(From  an  illuminated  MS.) 


Critical  Notes. 

BY   ISRAEL   GOLLANCZ. 


Prol.  I.  9.  'spirits  that  have  dared';  so  Staunton;  Folios  i,  2, 
3,  *  hath  ' ;    Folio  4,  '  spirit,  that- hath.' 

I.  ii.  45,52.  'Elbe/  restored  by  Capell ;  Folios  '  Eluc';  (Holin- 
shed,  'Elbe';  Hall,  '  Elvc'). 

I.  ii.  61-64.  Theobald  (Warburton)  ;  cp.  Montaigne's  Essays. 
III.  I  {vide  Florio's  translation). 

I.  ii.  yj.  'Lewis  the  tenth';  the  reading  of  Folios,  following 
Holin^hed;    Pope,  from  Hall,  reads  'ninth.' 

I.  ii.  94.  'amply  to  inibar';  so  Folios  (Folios  i,  2,  'imbarre')  ; 
Quartos  i,  2,  '  imbace,'  Quarto  3.  '  imbrace  ' ;  Rowe,  '  make  bare  ' ; 
Theobald  (Warburton),  '  imbare ' ;  Pope,  'openly  imbrace,'  etc. 
Schmidt  explains  the  lines: — "They  strive  to  exclude  you,  instead 
of  excluding  amply,  i.e.,  without  restriction  or  subterfuge,  their 
own  false  titles."  Perhaps  Mr.  W.  A.  Wright's  explanation  is 
the  truer,  taking  '  imbar '  in  the  sense  of  '  to  bar  in,'  '  secure  '  :— 

157 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

"  The  Kings  of  France,  sa3^s  the  Archbishop,  whose  own  right 
is  derived  only  through  the  female  line,  prefer  to  shelter  them- 
selves under  the  flimsy  protection  of  an  appeal  to  the  Salic  law, 
which  would  exclude  Henry's  claim,  instead  of  fully  securing 
and  defending  their  own  titles  by  maintaining  that  though,  like 
Henry's,  derived  through  the  female  line,  their  claim  was  stronger 
than  his." 

T.  ii.  98.  'in  the  Book  of  Numbers ' ;  cp.  Numbers  xxvii.  i-ii. 

I,  ii.  99.  'man';  the  reading  of  Folios;  Quartos,  '  sonne.' 

I.  ii.  no.  'Forage  in';  Folios,  '  Forrage  in';  Quarto  i,  'For- 
aging'; Quarto  3,  '  Forraging  the.' 

I.  ii.  125.  '  Your  grace  hath  cause  and  means.'  Hanmer  reads 
'  Your  race  hath  had  cause,  means'  Various  readings  have  been 
suggested,  but  there  seems  to  be  no  difficulty  whatever  in  under- 
standing the  text  as  it  stands. 

I.  ii.  131.  'blood';  so  Folios  3,  4;  Folio  i,  'Bloods';  Folio  2. 
'  Blonds: 

I.  ii.  150.  ' zi'ifh  ample  and  brim  fulness;  probably  'brim'  is 
here  adjectival;  Pope  reads  '  brimfulness' ;  but  the  accent  favours 
the  present  reading. 

I.  ii.  154.  'the  ill-neighbourhood' ;  Boswell,  from  Quartos, 
reads  '  the  bruit  thereof.' 

I.  ii.  163.  'her  chronicle' ;  Capell,  Johnson  conj.;  Folios  read 
'their  C ;  Quartos,  'your  Chronicles' ;  Rowe,  'his  Chronicle.' 

I.  ii.  173.  'tear';  so  Rowe,  ed.  2;  Folios,  'tame';  Quartos, 
''  spoil ' ;  Theobald,  ""  taint.' 

I.  ii.  180-183.  Theobald  first  compared  these  lines  with  Cicero, 
De  Republica,  ii.  42,  and  thought  that  Shakespeare  had  perhaps 
borrowed  from  Cicero. 

I.  ii.  187-203.  Lyly,  in  his  Euphues  (Arber's  Reprint,  pp.  262-4). 
has  a  similar  description  of  the  common-wealth  of  the  bees :  its 
ultimate  source  is  probably  Pliny's  Natural  History,  Book  xi, 
(n.b.,  Holland's  translation  did  not  appear  till  1601). 

I.  ii.  197.  'majesty' ;  so  Rowe  from  Quartos;  Folios,  '  Maies- 
ties.' 

I.  ii.  208.  'Come';  so  Folios;  Capell,  from  Quartos.  '  Uy ' ; 
'  as  many  rvays  meet  in  one  town  ' ;  Capell,  from  Quartos,  reads 
'As  many  seuerall  zvayes  meete  in  one  toivne';  Dyce,  Lettsom 
conj.,  'As  many  several  streets,'  etc. 

I.  ii.  209.  'meet  in  one  salt  sea';  Capell,  from  Quartos,  reads 
'run  in  one  self  sea' ;    Vaughan  conj.,  'run  in  one  salt  sea.' 

158 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

I.  ii.  212.  'End';  Pope's  emendation  from  Quartos;  Folios, 
'And.' 

I.  ii.  255.  '  This  tun  of  treasure  ' ;  probably  suggested  by  the 
corresponding  words  in  The  Famous  Victories. 

I.  ii.  263.  'shall  strike  his  father's  crown  into  the  hazard'; 
'hazard'  used  technically,  "the  hazard  in  a  tennis-court"; 
glosses,  'grille  de  tripot'  in  old  French  dictionaries. 

Prol.  II.  Pope  transferred  the  Prologue  to  the  end  of  the  first 
scene. 

Prol.  II.  2)'^.  '  The  abuse  of  distance;  force  a  play':  so  Folios: 
Pope,  'while  zve  force  a  play  ';  Warburton  conj.  '  zvhile  we  farce 
a  play  ^ ;  '  to  force  a  play '  is  interpreted  by  Steevens  to  mean 
'  to  produce  a  play  by  compressing  many  circumstances  into  a 
narrow  compass.'  Various  emendations  have  been  proposed,  but 
in  spite  of  the  imperfection  of  the  line  as  it  stands,  no  suggestions 
seem  to  improve  upon  it.  Perhaps,  after  all,  the  line  is  correct 
as  it  stands,  with  a  pause  for  a  syllable  at  the  caesura,  and  with 
a  vocalic  r  in  *"  force'  making  the  word  dissyllabic ;  cp.  '  -fierce' 
II.  iv.  99. 

Prol.  II.  41.  'But,  till  the  king  come  forth'  etc.,  i.e.  'until  the 
King  come  forth  we  shall  not  shift  our  scene  unto  Southampton.' 

II.  i.  5.  'there  shall  he  smiles';  Hanmer  conj.,  Warburton. 
'there  shall  he — (smiles)';  Farmer,  Collier,  2  ed.,  'smites'  {i.e. 
blows) . 

II.  i.  25.  '  mare ' ;  restored  by  Theobald  from  Quartos ;  Folios 
read  '  name  ' ;  Hanmer,  '  dame ' ;  Collier  MS.,  '  jade.' 

II.  i.  28.  '  Hozv  now,  mine  host  Pistol! '  Quartos,  '  Hozv  do 
you  my  hostef  giving  the  words  to  Nym. 

II.  i.  38.  '  O  well  a  day,  Lady,  if  he  he  not  drawn  now'; 
'  drazvn,'  Theobald's  emendation  ;  Folios,  '  hczvnc  ' ;  Malone  from 
Quarto  i,  '  O  Lord!  here's  corporal  Nynis .' 

II.  1.  43.  'Iceland  dog!';  Steevens,  Johnson,  conj.;  Folios  read 
'Island  dog';  Quartos,  '  Iseland.'  There  are  several  allusions  to 
"  these  shaggy,  sharp-eared,  white  dogs,  much  imported  formerly 
as  favourites  for  ladies." 

II.  i.  79.  '  la.zar  kite  of  Cressid's  kind';  probably  a  scrap  from 
some  old  play.  In  certain  parallel  passages  the  readings  vary  be- 
tween '  Kite,'  '  Kit,'  '  Catte ' ;  '  Kit,'  too,  is  the  spelling  of  Folio  4. 

II.  i.  85.  'and  you,  hostess';  Folios  'and  your  Hostesse' ; 
Folio  4.  '  Hostes  you  must  come  straight  to  my  master,  and  you 
Hoste  Pistole.' 

159 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

II.  i.  99.  '  Base  is  the  slave  that  pays,'  a  quotation  from  an  old 
play.  Steevens  quotes,  "  My  motto  shall  be,  Base  is  the  man  that 
pays"   (Heywood's  Fair  Maid  of  the  West). 

II.  i.  109.  and  no  omitted  in  Folios. 

II.  ii.  9.  '  Whom  he  hath  dull'd  and  cloy'd  with  gracious  fa- 
vours ' ;  Folios  3,  4,  "  lull'd."  Quartos,  followed  by  Steevens, 
'  zvhom  he  hath  cloy'd  and  grac'd  with  princely  favours.' 

II.  ii.  61.  'Who  are  the  late  commissioners f ;  Vaughan  conj. 
*"  Who  ask  the  late  commissions? ' ;  Collier  MS.  '  the  state  c' ;  but 
no  change  is  necessary;  'late  commissioners '=:' lately  appointed 
commissioners.' 

II.  ii.  63.  '  for  it,'  i.e.   for  my  commission. 

II.  ii.  114.  'by  treasons';  Mason  conj.  'to  treasons';  Moberly 
conj.  '  by  reasons.' 

II.  ii.  118.  'But  he  that  temper' d  thee  bade  thee  stand  up'; 
Moberly  conj,  'But  he  that  tempter-fiend  that  stirr'd  thee  up'; 
Dyce,  Johnson  conj.  'tempted' ;  Folios,  'bad,'  Vaughan  conj.  'sin 
thus.'  No  emendation  is  necessary,  tho'  it  is  uncertain  what  the 
exact  force  of  '  bade  thee  stand  up  '  may  be,  whether  (i)  *  like  an 
honest-man,'  or   (2)   'rise  in  rebellion.' 

II.  ii.  139-140.  '  To  mark  the  full-fraught  man  and  best  indued 
With  some  suspicion' ;  Malone's  emendation;  Theobald,  'the 
best'  etc.;  Folios,  'To  make  thee  full  fraught  man  and  best  in- 
dued,' etc.;  Pope,  '  To  make  the  full-fraught  man,  the  best,  endu'd 
V/ith'  etc. 

II.  ii.  148.  'Henry';  Theobald's  correction  from  Quartos; 
Folios  '  Thomas.' 

II.  ii.  176.  'you  have';  so  Knight,  from  Quartos;  Folios  2,  3, 
4,  '  you  three ' ;  Folio  i,  '  you.' 

II.  iii.  II.  'A'  made  a  finer  end';  Folios  i,  2,  '  a  finer';  Folios 
3,  4,  'finer';  Capell,  'a  fine';  Johnson  conj.  'a  final';  Vaughan 
conj.  'a  fair.'  Probably  Mistress  Quickly's  words  are  correctly 
reported,  and  should  not  be  edited. 

II.  iii.  14.  'fumble  with  the  sheets';  popularly  supposed  to  be 
a  sign  of  approaching  death. 

II.  iii.  17-18.  'and  a'  babbled  of  green  fields';  Theobald's  fa- 
mous correction  of  Folios,  '  and  a  Table  of  greene  fields  ' ;  Theo- 
bald's reading  was  suggested  to  him  by  a  MS.  note  written  in  a 
copy  of  Shakespeare  by  '  a  gentleman  sometime  deceased,'  who 
proposed  'And  a'  talked  of  green  fields.'  The  Quartos  omit  the 
line,  giving  the  passage  thus : — 

160 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

"  His  nose  was  as  sharp  as  a  pen, 
For  zchen  I  sazv  him  fumble  with  the  sheetes, 
And  talk  of  iioures,  and  smile  vpo  his  Angers  ends, 
I  knew  there  was  no  way  hut  one." 
(n.b.  '  talk  of  iioures  ').     Many  suggestions  have  been  put  forward 
since  Pope  explained  that  the  words  were  part  of  a  stage  direc- 
tion, and  that  '  Greenfield  was  the  name  of  the  property*man  in 
that  time  who  furnished  implements,  etc.,  for  the  actors.'     The 
marginal  stage-direction  was,  according  to  him,  '  A  table  of  green- 
fields:     Malone,  '  in  a  table  of  green  Helds,'  Collier  MS.,  '  on  a 
table  of  green  freese.'     Recently  Mr.  Henry  Bradley  has  pointed 
out  that  'green  field'  was  occasionally  used  for  the  exchequer 
table,  a  table  of  green  baize.     A  combination  of  this  suggestion 
with 'the  reading  of  the  Collier  MS.  would  require  merely  the 
change  of  '  and '  to  '  on,'  but  one  cannot  easily  give  up  one's  per- 
fect faith  in  Theobald's  most  brilliant  conjecture. 

11.  iii.  51.  'Let  senses  rule'',  i.e.  'let  prudence  govern  you' 
(Steevens). 

II.  iii,  54.  'And  hold-fast  is  the  only  dog';  cp.  '  Brag  is  a  good 
dog,  but  hold-fast  is  a  better.' 

II.  iii.  55.  '  Caveto,'  Quartos,  '  cophetua.' 

II.  iv.  57.  'mountain  sire';  Theobald,  'mounting  sire';  Col- 
lier, Mitford  conj.  'mighty  sire';  'mountain,'  evidently  means 
'  huge  as  a  mountain.' 

Prol.  III.  4.  'Hampton,'  Theobald's  correction  of  Folios 
'  Dover.' 

Fvol  Ul.  6.  '  fanning';  Rowe's  emendation  of  Folios  i,  2, 
'  fayning,'  Folios -3,  4,  '  faining' ;  Gould  conj.  'playing.' 

Prol.  III.  35.  'Eke';  the  first  folio  '  eech' ;  the  others,  ech'; 
probably  representing  the  pronunciation  of  the  word. 

III.  i.  7.  'summon  up,'  Rowe's  emendation  of  Folios  'com- 
mune up.'  .         ^  ,     •;;> 

III.  i.  15.  'nostril';   Rowe's  emendation   of  Folios  '  nosthnll. 
III.  i.  32.  'straining';    Rowe's   emendation   of    Folios   '  Stray- 

III.  ii.  20.  '  Up  to  the  breach,  you  dogs!  avaunt,  you  cullions!  ; 
so  Folios;  Capell  reads,  from  Quartos,  'God's  plud!—Up  to  the 
preaches,  you  rascals!  will  you  not  up  to  the  preaches  f 

III.  V.  46.  'Knights';  Theobald's  emendation  of  Folios 
'  Kings.' 

III.  V.  54.  'Rouen';  Malone's  emendation  of  'Rone,'  Quartos; 
'Roan'  Folios. 

161 


Notes 


THE  LIFE  OF 


III.  vi.  28-30.  'And  giddy  Fortune's  furious  fickle  wheel,'  etc. ; 
cp.  'Fortune  is  blind  .  .  .  ivkose  foot  is  standing  on  a  rolling 
stone/  Kyd's  Spanish  Tragedy. 


From  the  English  translation  (Cott.  MS.,  XVth  cent.)  of  William  de  Deguille- 
ville's  Pilgriinage  of  Huvian  Life. 


III.  vi.  31.  'Fortune  is  painted  blind';  Warburton  proposed 
the  omission  of  '  blind,'  which  may  have  been  caught  up  from 
the  next  line. 

III.  vi.  41.  'Fortune  is*Bardolph's  foe';  a  reference  to  the  old 
ballad,  'Fortune,  my  foe!' 

HI.  vi.  79.  'new-tuned' ;  Pope  reads  '  neiv-turned' ;  Collier 
MS.,  '  new-coined  ' ;  Grant  White,  '  nezv-found.' 

III.  vi.  107-111.  Fluellen's  description  of  Bardolph  forcibly  re- 
calls Chaucer's  Sompnour  in  the  Prologue  to  the  Canterbury 
Tales  (Quartos,  '  whelkes,  and  kniibs,  and  pnmples'  for 
'  bubukles,  and  whelkes,  and  knobs'). 

III.  vi.  117.  'lenity,'  Rowe's  emendation  from  Quarto;  Folios, 
'  Levity: 

III.  vi.  120.  'habit';  i.e.  sleeveless  coat,  the  herald's  tabard. 

III.  vii.  15.  '  chec  les  narines';  Capell,  'qui  a';  Folios,  '  ches'; 
Heath  conj.  '  voyez,'  etc. 

III.  vii.  43.  '  Wonder  of  Nature,'  probably  the  first  words  of  a 
sonnet  or  lyric  of  the  time. 

162 


KING  HENRY  V. 


Notes 


'the   dog  is 
to  the  mire,' 


III.  vii.  66.  fi"/.  '  Lc  chxcn  .  .  .  au  hourhicr ' ; 
returned  to  his  own  vomit,  and  the  washed  out  sow 
cp.  2  Peter  ii.  22. 

Prol.  IV".   16.  'name';  Tyrwhitt's  conj.;  Folios,  '  nam'd.' 
Prol.    IV.   20.     'cripple    tardy-gaited' ;    Folios,    '  creeple-tardy- 

gaied.' 

Prol.  IV.  26.       '  Investing     lank-lean     cheeks     and     zi'ar-zi'orn 

coats' ;  Capell.  'And  zvar-zvoni  coats,  investing  lank-lean  cheeks' ; 

Hanmer,    'In    zcasted';   Warburton,    'Invest   in';    Beckett    conj. 

'  Infesting,'  etc. 

IV.  i.  35.  'Qui  va  la';  Rowe's  emendation  of  Folios  'Che 
vous  laf ' 

IV.  i.  65.  '  spea.k  lozver';  so  Quarto  3.  adopted  by  Malone ; 
Quartos  i,  2,  'lewer';  Folios,  'fezver';  cp.  'to  speak  few,'  a 
provincialism  for  '  to  speak  low  '  (according  to  Steevens,  who 
prefers  the  folio  reading) . 

IV.  i.  94.  'Sir  Thomas';  Theobald's  correction  of  Folios 
'John.' 

IV.  i.  152.  'sinfully  miscarry  upon  the  sea';   Pope  reads  from 
Quartos,    'fall    into    some    lezvd 
action  and  miscarry.' 

IV.  i.  187.  '  mote  ' ;  Malone's 
emendation  of  Folios.  '  MotJi  ' ; 
Quartos,  '  moath.' 

IV.  i.  254.  '  What  is  thy  soul 
of  adoration? ' ;  Knight's  read- 
ing; Folio  I  reads,  'IVhaff  is 
thy  Sotile  of  Odoration  ' ;  Folios 
2,  3,  4,  'Adoration' ;  Warburton, 


'  What    is    thy    toll,    O 
tionf;    Hanmer,   'What 


adora- 
is   thy 


shezv  of  adoration? ' ;  Johnson. 
'  What  is  thy  soul,  O  adora- 
tion?'; etc..  etc.  (z'.  Glossary). 
IV.  i.  299.  300.  '  take  from 
them  nozv  the  sense  of  reckon- 
ing, if  the  opposed  numbers'; 
Tyrwhitt's  reading;  Folios, 
'  take  .  .  .  reck'ning  of  the 
opposed  numbers :  ' ;  Theobald. 
'  take  .  .  .  reck'ning;  lest  tli' 
opposed  numbers';  etc.,  etc. 

163 


From  an  original  specimen  of  the  time 
of  Charles  Vn.  of  France  (a.d.  1^22- 
1440),  preserved  in  a  private  collec- 
tion in  Paris. 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

IV.  ii.  45.  '  The  horsemen  sit  like  fixed  candlesticks.'  Cp.  illus- 
tration. 

IV.  iii.  40.  '  the  feast  of  Crispian '  falls  upon  the  25th  October. 

IV.  iii.  44.  'He  that  shall  live  this  day,  and  see';  Pope's  read- 
ing; Folios,  'He  that  shall  see  this  day  and  live';  Quartos,  'He 
that  outlives  this  day  and  sees.' 

IV.  iii.  48.  Omitted  in  Folios 

IV.  iii.  52.  'his  mouth.';  so  Folios;  Quartos,  'their  mouths'; 
Pope,  '  their  mouth.' 

IV.  iv.  3.  '  Qualtitie  ealmie  custure  me ' ;  probably  Pistol 
catches  the  last  word  of  the  French  soldier's  speech,  repeats  it, 
and  adds  the  refrain  of  a  popular  Irish  song,  '  Calen,  O  custure 
me'  :='  colleen  oge  astore,'  i.e.  '  young  girl,  my  treasure.'  The 
popularity  of  the  song  is  evidenced  by  the  following  heading  of 
one  of  the  songs  in  Robinson's  Handful  of  Pleasant  Delights 
(cp.  Arber's  Reprint,  p.  33)  :  'A  Sonet  of  a  Lover  in  the  praise  of 
his  lady.  To  Calen  0  custure  me;  sung  at  euerie  lines  end';  first 
pointed  out  by  Malone. 

IV.  iv.  72.  'this  roaring  devil  i'  the  old  pluy';  alluding  to  the 
standing  character  of  the  Devil  in  the  Morality  plays. 

IV.  v.  II.  'Let  us  die  in  honour;  once';  Knight's  emendation; 
Folio  I,  '  Let  us  dye  in  once ' ;  Folios  2,  3,  4,  '  Let  us  Hue  in  once  ' ; 
etc.     Omitted  by  Pope. 

IV.  V.  18.  'our  lives';  Steevens  adds  from  Quartos,  'Unto 
these  English,  or  else  die  with  fame' ;  Vaughan  conj.  '  Unto  these 
English,  or  else  die  with  shame.' 

IV.  vii.  31.  'alike';  so  Folios;  Rowe  reads,  'as  like.' 

IV.  vii.  45.  '  made ' ;  Capell,  following  Quartos,  reads  '  made 
an  end.' 

IV.  vii.  65.  'Assyrian  slings';  Theobald  compared  Judith  ix.  7, 
and  defended  the  reading  against  Warburton's  proposed  '  Bal- 
earian'  (afterwards  withdrawn). 

IV.  vii.  71.  'w/?a^  means  this,  herald  f ;  Steevens'  reading; 
Folio  I,  'what  meanes  this  herald?';  Folios  2,  3,  4,  'what  means 
their  herald';  Hanmer  conj.  'what  mean'st  thou,  herald f 

IV.  vii.  81.  'their  wounded  steeds';  Folios,  '  zvith,'  corrected  by 
Malone.     The  Quartos  omit  the  line. 

Prol.  V.  30-35.  The  allusion  is  to  Robert  Devereux,  Earl  of 
Essex,  who  was  sent  to  Ireland  in  1599  to  suppress  Tyrone's  re- 
bellion;  he  left  London  on  March  27,  and  returned  on  Septem- 
ber 28  (v.  Preface). 

Fvol.  Y.  3S.  '  The    emperor's    coming';    i.e.    'the    emperor    is 

164 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

coming.'  or  (better)  'the  emperor's  coming,'  parallel  to  'the  King 
of  England's  stay  at  home.'  The  line  refers  to  the  visit  of  Sigis- 
mund,  Emperor  of  Germany,  ist  May,  1416.  Malone  supposed 
that  a  line  had  dropped  out  before  The  Emperor',  etc. ;  Capell  re- 
wrote the  passage.  It  seems,  however,  that  if  instead  of  a  semi- 
colon, a  comma  is  placed  after  'at  home,'  the  lines  are  perfectly 
intelligible  as  they  stand. 

V.  1.  85.  '  Doll'\  Capell,  'Nell';  which  is  probably  the  correct 
reading,  though  Shakespeare  may  himself  have  made  the  mistake. 

V.  ii.  7.  'Burgundy' ;  Rowe's  emendation,  from  Quartos,  of 
Folio  I,  '  Burgogne' ;  Folios  2,  4,  '  Burgoigne' ;  Folio  3,  '  Bar- 
goigne.' 

V.  ii.  ir.  'So  are  you,  princes  English,  every  one';  Folios  i, 
2,  3,  'So  are  you  princes  (English)  every  one';  Folio  4,  'So  are 
you  princes  (Etiglish  every  one).' 

V.  ii.  12.  'England' ;  so  Folios  2,  3,  4;  Folio  i  reads  'Ireland.' 

V.  ii.  50.  '  air ;  Rowe's  reading ;   Folios  '  withall.' 

V.  ii.  82.  'Pass  our  accept';  Warburton  reads,  'Pass,  or  ac- 
cept'; Malone  conj.  'Pass,  or  except'  etc. 

V.  ii.  259.  260.  'queen  of  all,  Katharine' ;  Capell  conj.  adopted 
by  Dyce,  '.queen  of  all  Katharines.' 

V.  ii.  359.  '  Hcritier' ;  Folios  read  '  Heretere  ' ;  '  Prceclarissi- 
mus  ' ;  so  Folios  ;  Rann  reads  '  Percarissimus  ' ;  the  error  is,  how- 
ever, copied  from  Holinshed. 

V.  ii.  393.  'Sennet';  Folio  i,  '  Senet';  Folio  2.  'Sonet,'  as 
though  referring  to  the  fourteen  lines  of  the  Epilogue. 

Epil.  13.  'Which  oft  our  stage  hath  shown';  vide  Preface  to 
I,  2,  3  Henry  VI. 


165 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Explanatory  Notes. 


The  Explanatory  Notes  in  this  edition  have  been  specially  selected  and 
adapted,  with  emendations  after  the  latest  and  best  authorities,  from  the 
most  eminent  Shakespearian  scholars  and  commentators,  including  Johnson, 
Malone,  Steevens,  Singer,  Dyce,  Hudson,  White,  Furness,  Dowden,  and 
others.  This  method,  here  introduced  for  the  first  time,  provides  the  best 
annotation  of  Shakespeare  ever  embraced  in  a  single  edition. 

PROLOGUE. 

I.  O  for  a  Muse,  etc.: — How  strongly  Shakespeare  was  im- 
pressed by  the  greatness  of  his  theme  appears  in  his  reiterated 
expressions  of  humility  in  approaching  it.  He  begins,  like  the 
epic  poets  of  antiquity,  with  an  invocation  of  the  Muse;  he  im- 
plores forgiveness,  not  onl}^  for  the  imperfection  of  his  scenic  ap- 
paratus, but  for  the  "  flat  unraised  spirits  "  in  which  he  treats  so 
mighty  a  theme. 

ACT  FIRST. 
Scene  I. 

7-19.  This  is  taken  almost  literally  from  Holinshed :  "In  the 
second  yeare  of  his  reigne,  King  Henrie  called  his  nigh  court  of 
parlement,  in  which  manie  petitions  moved  were  for  that  time 
deferred.  Amongst  which  one  was  to  the  effect,  that  the  temporal  1 
lands  devoutlie  given,  and  disordinatelie  spent  by  religious  and 
other  spirituall  persons,  should  be  seized  into  the' Kings  hands; 
sith  the  same  might  suffice  to  mainteine,  to  the  honor  of  the  King, 
and  defense  of  the  realme,  fifteene  earles,  fifteene  hundred  knights, 
six  thousand  and  two  hundred  esquires,  and  a  hundred  almesse- 
houses,  for  reliefe  onelie  of  the  poore,  impotent,  and  needie  per- 
sons, and  the  King  to  have  cleerelie  to  his  coffers  twentie  thou- 
sand pounds."  It  should  be  remarked  that  this  Parliament  was 
called,  April  30,  1414,  at  Leicester ;  but  it  appears  from  the  Chorus 

-66 


KING  HENRY  V,  Notes 

to  the  Second  Act  that  the  Poet  laid  the  scene  of  the  first  Act  at 
London. 

51,52.  So  that  .  .  .  this  thcoric: — That  is,  he  must  have 
drawn  his  theory,  digested  his  order  and  method  of  thought,  from 
the  art  and  practice  of  life,  instead  of  shaping  the  latter  by  the 
rules  and  measures  of  the  former:  which  is  strange,  since  he  has 
never  been  seen  in  the  way  either  of  learning  the  things  in  ques- 
tion by  experience,  or  of  digesting  the  fruits  of  experience  into 
theory.  Practic  and  theoric,  or  practiqiie  and  theorique,  were 
the  old  spelling  of  practice  and  theory.  An  apt  commentary  on 
the  text  occurs  in  A  Treatise  of  Human  Learning,  by  Lord 
Brooke,  who  was  a  star  in  the  same  constellation  with  Shake- 
speare, and  one  of  the  profoundest  thinkers  of  the  time : — 

"  Againe,  the  active,  necessarie  arts 
Ought  to  be  briefe  in  bookes,  in  practise  long: 
Short  precepts  may  extend  to  many  parts ; 
The  practise  must  be  large,  or  not  be  strong. 
For  if  these  two  be  in  one  ballance  weigh'd. 
The  artless  use  bears  down  the  useless  art. 
The  world  should  therefore  her  instructions  draw 
Backe  unto  life  and  actions,  whence  they  came ; 
That  practise,  which  gave  being,  might  give  law 
To  make  them  short,  cleare,  fruitfull  unto  man : 
As  God  made  all  for  use,  even  so  must  she 
By  chance  and  use  uphold  her  mystery." 

Scene  II. 

{Enter  .  .  .  Gloucester,  Bedford,  etc.]  The  princes  Hum- 
phrey and  John  of  the  preceding  play  were  made  Dukes  of 
Gloucester  and  Bedford  at  the  first  Parliament  of  Henry  V.,  1414. 
At  the  same  time,  according  to  Holinshed,  Thomas  Beaufort,  Mar- 
quess of  Dorset,  was  made  Duke  of  Exeter.  The  Beaufort  fam- 
ily sprang  from  John  of  Gaunt  by  Catharine  Swynford.  to  whom 
he  was  married  after  she  had  borne  him  several  children.  The 
earldom  of  Warwick  was  at  that  time  in  the  family  of  Beauchamp, 
and  the  Earl  of  Westmoreland  was  Ralph  Neville. 

40.  gloze : — So  in  Holinshed :  "  The  verie  words  of  that  sup- 
posed law  are  these.  In  terra ni  Salicam  mulieres  ne  succedant.  that 
is  to  saie.  Into  the  Salike  land  let  not  women  succeed.  Which 
the  French  glossers  expound  to  be  the  realme  of  France,  and  that 
this  law  was  made  by  King  Pharamond."     This  may  serve  as  a 

167 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

sample  showing  how  closely  the  Poet  here  follows  the  chronicler ; 
the  whole  speech  being  little  else  than  Holinshed's  sentences  ver- 
sified. 

74.  Conrey'd  himself,  etc.: — That  is,  passed  himself  off  as  heir 
to  the  lady  Lingare.  Bishop  Cooper  has  the  same  expression : 
'*  To  conz'ey  himself  to  be  of  some  noble  family."  The  matter  is 
thus  stated  by  Holinshed :  "  Hugh  Capet  also,  who  usurped  the 
crowme  upon  Charles  Duke  of  Loraine,  the  sole  heire  male  of  the 
line  and  stocke  of  Charles  the  great,  to  make  his  title  seeme  true, 
and  appeare  good,  though  in  deed  it  was  starke  naught,  eonveied 
himself e  as  heire  to  the  ladie  Lingard,  daughter  to  King  Charle- 
maine." 

130-135-  O,  let,  etc. : — So  in  Holinshed's  paraphrase  of  the  Arch- 
bishop's speech :  "  At  length,  having  said  sufficientlie  for  the 
proof e  of  the  King's  just  and  lawful  title  to  the  crowne  of  France, 
he  exhorted  him  to  advance  foorth  his  banner  to  fight  for  his 
right,  to  spare  neither  bloud.  sword,  nor  fire,  sith  his  warre  was 
just,  his  cause  good  and  his  claime  true:  and  he  declared  that  in 
their  spirituall  convocation  they  had  granted  to  his  highnesse  such 
a  summe  of  monie  as  never  by  no  spirituall  persons  was  to  any 
prince  before  those  dales  given  or  advanced." 

252.  galliard: — The  galliard  is  thus  described  by  Sir  John 
Davies  in  his  Orchestra  : — 

"  But,  for  more  divers  and  more  pleasing  show, 
A  swift  and  w^andring  daunce  she  did  invent, 

With  passages  uncertaine,  to  and  fro. 
Yet  with  a  certaine  answere  and  consent 
To  the  quicke  musicke  of  the  instrument. 

Five  was  the  number  of  the  musicks  feet. 

Which  still  the  daunce  did  with  five  paces  meet. 

A  gallant  daunce,  that  lively  doth  bewTay 
A  spirit,  and  a  vertue  masculine. 

Impatient  that  her  house  on  earth  should  stay, 
Since  she  herselfe  is  fiery  and  divine: 
Oft  doth  she  make  her  body  upward  fline ; 

With  lofty  turnes  and  capriols  in  the  ayre. 

Which  with  the  lusty  tunes  accordeth  faire." 

258.  Tennis-balls: — This  funny  piece  of  French  diplomacy  is 
thus  related  by  Holinshed :  "  Whilest  in  the  Lent  season  the  King 
laie  at  Killingworth.  there  came  to  him  from  the  Dolphin  of 
France  certeine  ambassadors  that  brought  with  them  a  barrell  of 

168 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

Paris  hallcs,  which  from  their  master  they  presented  to  him  for  a 
token  that  was  taken  in  verie  ill  part,  as  sent  in  scorne,  to  signific 
that  it  was  more  meet  for  the  King  to  passe  the  time  with  such 
childish  exercise,  thai^  to  attempt  any  worthie  exploit.  Wherefore 
the  King  wrote  to  him  that  yer  ought  long  he  would  tosse  him 
some  London  balles  that  perchance  should  shake  the  -walles  of 
the  best  court  in  France."  In  the  old  play,  The  Famous  Victories 
of  Henry  V.,  the  "barrel  of  Paris  balls"  becomes  "a  gilded  tun 
[i.e.,  goblet]  of  tennis-balls." 

ACT  SECOND. 
Prologue. 

23.  Richard  Earl  of  Cambridge : — This  was  Richard  Plantag- 
enet,  second  son  of  Edmund  of  Langley.  Duke  of  York,  and 
brother  to  Edward,  the  Duke  of  York  of  this  play. 

Scene  I. 

30.  [Pistol.]  It  is  clear,  from  the  tenour  of  contemporary  lit- 
erature, that  in  Pistol  and  his  companions  Shakespeare  drew  from 
the  life — studies  that  London  ordinaries  supplied  him  in  abun- 
dance. We  must  call  to  mind  the  general  custom  of  carrying 
weapons,  the  frequency  of  fatal  brawls,  license  of  duel,  and  in- 
sufficiency of  police,  together  with  the  loose  military  population 
always  afloat,  to  recognize  fairly  the  unnatura]  developments  of 
swaggering  and  cowardice  in  combination,  that  the  circum- 
stances of  the  times  made  familiar.  Pistol  might  scarcely  have 
been  thought  more  of  an  exaggeration  than  the  sullen  and  bloody- 
hinting  Nym;  and  the  original  spectators  must  have  appreciated, 
with  a  gusto  that  we  may  envy  them,  the  scene  in  which  these  lily- 
livered  rascals  of  contrasted  costume  stand  opposed  with  naked 
sW'Ords  that  they  are  themselves  afraid  of,  and  affect  to  be  held 
apart  by  the  sword  of  Bardolph,  only  less  a  coward  than  the  least 
of  them,  who  faces  out  one  impossible  contingency  by  another 
and  an  oath — "  Hear  me,  hear  what  I  say — he  that  strikes  the  first 
stroke  I  '11  run  him  up  to  the  hilts,  as  I  am  a  soldier."  Mrs. 
Quickly  herself  never  hit  a  truer  meaning  in  attempting  to  ex- 
press a  false  one,  than  when  she  bade  good  Corporal  Nym, 
**  Show  thy  valour,  and  put  up  your  sword." 

169 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

43.  Iceland  dog: — In  a  treatise  by  Abraham  Fleming.  Of  Eng- 
lish Dogges,  1576,  occurs  the  following:  "Iceland  dogges,  curled 
and  rough  all  over,  which,  by  reason  of  the  length  of  their  heare, 
make  show  neither  of  face  nor  of  body.  And  yet  thes  curres, 
forsoothe,  because  they  are  so  strange,  are  greatly  set  by,  esteemed, 
taken  up,  and  made  of,  many  times  instead  of  the  spaniell  gentle 
or  comforter."  Island  cur  is  again  used  as  a  term  of  contempt 
in  Epigrams  served  out  in  Fifty-tzvo  several  Dishes: — 

"  He  wears  a  gown  lac'd  round,  laid  down  with  f  urre. 
Or,  miser-like,  a  pouch  where  never  man 
Could  thrust  his  finger,  but  this  island  curre." 

Scene  II. 

I.  these  traitors: — Ulrici  says:  "The  life  of  the  just  and  gra- 
cious prince  is  threatened  by  the  treacherous  and  murderous 
designs  of  a  few  ambitious  and  rapacious  barons ;  the  blackest 
ingratitude  and  faithlessness  embitter  his  position  as  King  and 
disappoint  his  fairest  hopes.  The  representation  of  the  con- 
spiracy of  the  Earl  of  Cambridge,  Grey  and  Scroop,  which  is  in- 
terwoven as  an  episode,  explains  the  significance  of  the  whole. 
Accordingly  Henry  V.,  following  his  father's  advice  as  well  as  his 
own  judgement,  has  to  endeavour  to  withdraw  the  attention  of  the 
people  and  the  nobles  from  internal  affairs  of  the  state.  Even 
though  the  war  with  France  originated  in  reality  from  another 
and  deeper  reason,  still  Henry's  own  personal  object  was  his  chief 
motive  in  beginning  the  campaign  so  hurriedly  and  almost  with- 
out preparation.  And  although  the  war  at  first  had  an  outwardly 
glorious  termination,  owing  to  Henry's  heroic  strength,  and  the 
superior  valour  and  ability  of  the  English  nation,  still  it  was  this 
very  war  which  subsequently  became  a  source  of  misery  to  Eng- 
land." 

126,  127.  O,  how  hast  thou,  etc. : — "  Shakespeare,"  says  John- 
son, "  use^  this  aggravation  of  the  guilt  of  treachery  with  great 
judgement.  One  of  the  worst  consequences  of  breach  of  trust 
is  the  diminution  of  that  confidence  which  makes  the  happiness 
of  life,  and  the  dissemination  of  suspicion,  which  is  the  poison  of 
society." 

140-142.  /  will  zveep,  etc. : — Lord  Scroop  has  already  been 
spoken  of  as  having  been  the  King's  bedfellow.  Holinshed  gives 
the  following  account  of  him :   "  The  said  Lord  Scroope  was  in 

170 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

such  favour  with  the  King,  that  he  admitted  him  sometime  to  be 
his  bedtellow.  in  whose  tideHtie  the  King  reposed  such  trust,  that 
when  anie  privat  or  pubHke  councell  was  in  hand,  this  lord  had 
much  in  the  determination  of  it.  For  he  represented  so  great 
gravities  in  his  countenance,  such  modestie  in  behaviour,  and  so 
vertuous  zeale  to  all  godlinesse  in  his  talke,  that  whatsoever  he 
said  was  thought  for  the  most  part  necessarie  to  be  doone  and  fol- 
lowed." 

IS5-157.  For  7UC  .  .  .  intended: — "  Diverce  write,"  says  Hol- 
inshed,  "  that  Richard  Earle  of  Cambridge  did  not  conspire 
with  the  Lord  Scroope  and  Thomas  Graie  for  the  murthering  of 
King  Henrie,  to  please  the  French  king  withall,  but  onelie  to  the 
intent  to  exalt  to  the  crowne  his  brother-in-law,  Edmund  Earle  of 
Marche,  as  heir  to  Lionel  Duke  of  Clarence ;  who  being  for  diverse 
secrcet  impediments  not  able  to  have  issue,  the  Earle  of  Cambridge 
was  sure  that  the  crowne  should  come  to  him  by  his  wife,  and  to 
his  children  of  her  begotten.  And  therefore  (as  was  thought) 
he  rather  confessed  himselfc  for  neede  of  monie  to  be  corrupted 
by  the  French  king,  lest  the  Earle  of  Marche  should  have  tasted 
of  the  same  cuppe  that  he  had  drunken,  and  what  should  have 
come  to  his  owne  children  he  much  doubted." 

177-181.  Get  you  therefore  hence  .  .  .  offences: — So  in  Hol- 
inshed :  "  Revenge  herein  touching  my  person,  though  I  seeke 
not;  yet  for  safegard  of  you,  my  deere  freends,  and  for  due  preser- 
vation of  all  sorts,  I  am  by  office  to  cause  example  to  be  showed. 
Get  ye  hence,  therefore,  ye  poore  miserable  wretches,  to  the  re- 
ceiving of  your  just  reward,  wherein  Gods  majestic  give  ye  grace 
cf  his  mercie,  and  repentance  of  your  heinous  ofifenses." 

Scene  IV. 

26.  so  idly  king'd : — The  Dauphin,  less  original  than  Hotspur, 
but  without  a  spark  of  his  real  heroism,  misconstrues 
Henry.  .  .  .  Shakespeare  plays  with  visible  pleasure  upon  the 
tennis-ball  motive  which  he  found  in  Holinshed.  He  makes  the 
English  envoys  to  the  French  camp  deliver  a  special  message  of 
scorn  to  the  Dauphin ;  and  the  Dauphin,  in  spite  of  history  and  his 
father,'s  orders,  figures  in  the  French  camp  at  Agincourt.  But  the 
Dauphin  is  only  an  extreme  type  of  the  fatuous  intoxication  which 
possesses  the  whole  host,  and  is  chiefly  responsible  for  its  over- 
throw. Agincourt  is  the  duel  of  Shrewsbury,  writ  large ;  with  the 
difference  that  there  is  here  no  counterpart  to  the  pathos  of  the 

171 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

mourning  for  Hotspur.  A  few  wild  curses  and  cries  of  rage  suf- 
fice to  sum  up  the  immeasurably  greater  tragedy  of  the  French 
rout. 

ACT  THIRD. 
Prologue. 

S3,  the  devilish  cannon: — Of  course  Shakespeare  was  a  reader 
of  Spenser,  and  this  passage  yields  a  slight  trace  of  his  reading. 
Thus  in  The  Faerie  Queene,  i.  7-13: — 

"...     that  divelish  yron  cngin,  wrought 
In  deepest  hell,  and  fram'd  by  Furies  skill. 
With  windy  nitre  and  quick  sulphur  fraught. 
And  ramd  with  bollet  rownd,  ordaind  to  kill." 

Scene  I. 

{Before  HaiHeiir.]  The  main  action  of  Henry  V.  consists  in 
the  invasion  of  France  with  thirty  thousand  men,  twenty-four 
thousand  of  whom  were  foot-soldiers,  and  six  thousand  horse. 
The  embarkation  of  these  forces  was  made  from  Southampton,  in 
fifteen  hundred  ships,  on  the  nth  of  August,  1415,  and  the  whole 
were  landed  on  the  coast  of  France  on  the  second  day  afterwards. 
The  first  exploit  of  this  army  was  to  lay  siege  to  Harfleur,  for,  in 
those  days  of  pikes  and  crossbows,  prudent  commanders  never 
ventured  to  advance  into  an  enemy's  country  with  walled  towns 
behind  them.  The  place  surrendered  on  the  22nd  of  September, 
after  a  siege  of  thirty-six  days,  when  Henry,  finding  that  his  force 
had  been  reduced  to  less  than  half  its  former  numbers  by  battle 
and  disease,  determined  to  fall  back  on  Calais.  For  the  execution 
of  this  movement,  according  to  the  English  chroniclers,  the  army 
remaining  to  him  could  not  have  amounted  to  much  more  than 
eight  thousand  fighting  men  in  all.  * 

11-14.  let  the  brozu  .  .  .  ocean: — Daniel,  in  his  Civil  Wars, 
has  a  similar  passage : — 

"  A  place  there  is,  where  proudly  rais'd  there  stands 
A  huge  aspiring  rock,  neighbouring  the  skies, 
Whose  surly  brow  imperiously  commands 
The  sea  his  bounds,  that  at  his  proud  foot  lies; 
And  spurns  the  waves  that  in  rebellious  bands 
Assault  his  empire,  and  against  him  rise." 

172 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

Scene  II. 

3.  Pray  thee,  corporal: — It  appears  (II.  i.  2)  that  Bardolph  has 
been  lifted  up  from  a  corporal  into  a  lieutenant  since  our  acquaint- 
ance with  him  in  Henry  IV .,  and  that  Nym  has  succeeded  him  in 
the  former  rank.  It  is  not  quite  certain  whether  the  Poet  forgot 
the  fact  here,  or  whether  Nym,  being  used  to  call  him  corporal,  in 
his  fright  loses  his  new  title. 

Scene  III. 

[King  Henry.]  Knight  says  that  "  skilfully  as  he  has  managed 
it,  and  magnificent  as  the  whole  drama  is  as  a  great  national  song 
of  triumph,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  Shakespeare  felt  that  in  this 
play  he  was  dealing  with  a  theme  too  narrow  for  his  peculiar 
powers  .  .  .  the  subject  being  altogether  one  of  lyric  gran- 
deur, .  ,  ,  And  yet,  how  exquisitely  has  Shakespeare  thrown 
his  dramatic  power  into  this  undramatic  subject!  The  character 
of  the  King  is  one  of  the  most  finished  portraits  that  has  proceeded 
from  his  master  hand.  ...  It  was  for  him  to  embody  in  the 
person  of  Henry  V.  the  principle  of  national  heroism ;  it  was  for 
him  to  call  forth  the  spirit  of  patriotic  reminiscence." 

Scene  IV. 

[Enter  Katharine  and  Alice.]  Touching  this  Scene  various 
grounds  have  been  taken,  some  pronouncing  it  ridiculous,  others 
rejecting  it  as  an  interpolation,  and  others  wondering  that  Katha- 
rine and  Alice  should  be  made  to  speak  French,  when  the  other 
French  characters  talk  English.  We  cannot  well  see  why  any- 
thing better  should  be  asked  than  Johnson's  remarks  on  the  sub- 
ject: "The  grimaces  of  the  two  Frenchwomen,  and  the  odd 
accent  with  which  they  uttered  the  English,  might  divert  an  audi- 
ence more  refined  than  could  be  found  in  the  Poet's  time.  There 
is  in  it  not  only  the  French  language,  but  the  French  spirit.  Alice 
compliments  the  princess  upon  the  knowledge  of  four  words,  and 
tells  her  that  she  pronounces  like  the  English  themselves.  The 
princess  suspects  no  deficiency  in  her  instructress,  nor  the  in- 
structress in  herself.  The  extraordinary  circumstance  of  intro- 
ducing a  character  speaking  French  in  an  English  drama  was  no 
novelty  to  our  early  stage." 

173 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

Scene  V. 

33-  lavoltas  .  .  .  corantos: — The  lavolta  was  a  dance  of 
Italian  origin,  and  seems  to  have  been  something  like  the  modern 
waltz,  only,  perhaps,  rather  more  so.  It  is  thus  described  by  Sir 
John  Davies  in  his  Orchestra  : — 

"A  lofty  jumping,  or  a  leaping  round, 
Where  arm  in  arm  two  dancers  are  entwin'd, 
And  whirl  themselves  with  strict  embracements  bound, 
And  still  their  feet  an  anapest  do  sound. 
An  anapest  is  all  their  music's  song. 
Whose  first  two  feet  are  short,  and  third  is  long." 

The  coranto  comes  in  for  a  like  share  of  his  poetical  touching: — 

"  What  shall  I  name  those  current  traverses. 
That  on  a  triple  dactyl  foot  do  run. 
Close  by  the  ground,  with  sliding  passages, 
Wherein  that  dancer  greatest  praise  hath  won 
Which  with  best  order  can  all  order  shun? 
For  every  where  he  wantonly  must  range, 
And  turn  and  wind  vv'ith  unexpected  change." 

Scene  VI. 

3,  4.  /  assure  you  .  .  .  bridge  : — After  Henry  had  passed  the 
Somme,  the  French  endeavoured  to  intercept  him  in  his  passage  to 
Calais ;  and  for  that  purpose  attempted  to  break  down  the  only 
bridge  that  there  was  over  the  small  river  of  Ternois.  But  Henry 
had  notice  of  their  design,  and  sent  a  part  of  his  troops  before 
him,  who,  attacking  and  putting  the  French  to  flight,  preserved  the 
bridge  till  the  whole  English  army  arrived  and  passed  over  it. 

42.  For  lie  hath  stolen  a  pax : — Holinshed  makes  the  following 
statement  respecting  the  discipline  kept  up  in  this  expedition : 
"  The  poore  people  of  the  countrie  were  not  spoiled,  nor  anie 
thing  taken  of  them  without  paiment,  nor  anie  outrage  or  offense 
doone  by  the  Englishmen,  except  one,  which  was,  that  a  souldier 
tooke  a  pix  out  of  a  church,  for  which  he  was  apprehended,  and 
the  King  not  once  remooved  till  the  box  was  restored,  and  the 
offendor  strangled."  Of  course  the  Poet  drew  from  this  passage, 
changing  pix  to  pax,  and  assigning  the  theft  to  Bardolph. 

147-174.  Thou  dost  thy  oflice,  etc. : — The  Poet  here  follows  very 

174 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

close  upon  the  chronicler:  "And  so  Montjoy  king  at  armes  was 
sent  to  the  King  of  England,  to  defie  him  as  the  enemie  of  France, 
and  to  tell  him  that  he  should  shortlie  have  battell.  King  Henrie 
answered,  '  Mine  intent  is  to  doo  as  it  pleaseth  God :  I  will  not 
seeke  your  master  at  this  time ;  but  if  he  or  his  seeke  me,  I  will 
meet  with  them,  God  willing.  If  anie  of  your  nation  attempt  once 
to  stop  me  in  my  journie  now  towards  Calls,  at  their  jeopardie  be 
it;  and  yet  I  wish  not  anie  of  you  so  unadvised,  as  to  be  the  occa- 
sion that  I  die  your  tawnie  ground  with  your  red  bloud !  '  When 
he  had  thus  answered  the  herald,  he  gave  him  a  princelie  reward, 
and  licence  to  depart."  It  was  customary  thus  to  reward  heralds, 
whatever  might  be  the  nature  of  their  message. 

Scene  VII. 

15.  Pegasus: — The  famous  flying  horse  in  old  Greek  tales. 
Bellerophon  used  it  to  aid  him  in  killing  the  chimera,  a  fire- 
breathing  monster,  which,  according  to  the  myth,  he  slew  by  shoot- 
ing arrows  at  it  as  he  rode  through  the  air  on  the  horse. 

22.  Perseus : — Another  hero  of  the  Greek  tales,  who,  as  the 
story  has  it,  slew  the  terrible  Gorgon  Medusa,  and  also  saved  the 
life  of  the  maid  Andromeda,  when  she  had  been  left  chained  to  a 
rock,  to  be  the  prey  of  a  sea-monster. 


ACT   FOURTH. 
Prologue. 

[Chorus.]  Only  one  other  drama  entirely  Shakespeare's — The 
Winter's  Tale — contains  a  chorus;  and  there  it  serves  to  announce 
an  interval  of  dramatic  time  far  greater  than  the  Poet  has  any- 
where else  approached.  Except  in  this  Act,  the  Chorus  in  Henry  V. 
announces  only  intervals  of  space  or  time — as  a  journey  from 
London  to  Southampton,  from  Southampton  to  Harfleur — and 
other  incidental  matters.  But  the  Chorus  to  Act  IV.  has  no  such 
role  to  perform ;  and  this  Chorus,  splendid  and  high-wrought, 
serves  to  show  that  Shakespeare  introduced  this  machinery,  not 
for  the  sake  of  bridging  intervals  of  time  and  space — which  else- 
where his  audience  unconcernedly  crossed  "  with  imagined  wing  " 
— but  as  the  most  obvious  means  of  bringing  home  the  outward 
semblance  of  an  event  of  absorbing  interest.     In  Coriolanus,  in 

175 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

Antony  and  Cleopatra,  there  are  brief  bursts  of  battle-poetry  ex- 
ceeding in  sublimity  anything  in  Henry  V . ;  but  that  is  chiefly  be- 
cause they  are  penetrated  with  a  dramatic  passion  for  which  in 
Henry  V.  there  was  simply  no  room.  The  subject  was  epic,  and 
Shakespeare  fell  back  upon  the  epic  poet's  method.  No  scene  in 
the  drama  paints  so  vividly  as  a  few  lines  in  this  Chorus  the 
transforming  spell  of  the  master  presence,  which  made  the  handful 
of  worn-out  men  a  weapon  of  adamant  against  the  serried  ranks  of 
chivalry. 

13.  closing  rivets  up : — This  does  not  solely  refer  to  the  riveting 
the  plate  armour  before  it  was  put  on,  but  also  to  a  part  when  it 
was  on.  The  top  of  the  cuirass  had  a  little  projecting  bit  of  iron 
that  passed  through  a  hole  pierced  through  the  bottom  of  the 
casque.  When  both  were  put  on,  the  smith  or  armourer  presented 
himself,  with  his  riveting  hammer,  to  close  the  rivets  up  ;  so  that 
the  wearer's  head  should  remain  steady,  notwithstanding  the  force 
of  any  blow  that  might  be  given  on  the  cuirass  or  helmet. 

19.  play  at  dice: — The  Poet  took  this  from  Holinshed:  "The 
Frenchmen  in  the  meane  while,  as  though  they  had  beene  sure  of 
victorie,  made  great  triumph ;  for  the  capteins  had  determined  how 
to  divide  the  spoile,  and  the  soldiers  the  night  before  had  plaid 
the  Englishmen  at  dice." 

Scene  I. 

[King  Henry.]  Kenny,  in  treating  upon  the  view  which  Shake- 
speare's portrait  of  Henry  V.  gives  us  of  the  Poet's  own  character, 
says :  "  Some  of  the  continental  critics  think  they  can  see  that  not 
only  was  Henry  V.  Shakespeare's  favourite  hero,  but  that  this  is 
the  character,  in  all  the  Poet's  dramas,  which  he  himself  most 
nearly  resembled.  Many  people  will,  perhaps,  hardly  be  able  to 
refrain  from  a  smile  on  hearing  of  this  conjecture.  We  certainly 
cannot  see  the  slightest  ground  for  its  adoption.  The  whole  his- 
tory of  Shakespeare's  life,  and  the  whole  cast  of  Shakespeare's 
genius,  are  opposed  to  this  extravagant  supposition.  We  have  no 
doubt  that  the  Poet  readily  sympathized  with  the  frank  and  gallant 
bearing  of  the  King.  But  we  find  no  indication  in  all  that  we 
know  of  his  temperament,  or  of  the  impression  which  he  produced 
upon  his  contemporaries,  of  that  firm,  rigid,  self-concentrated  per- 
sonality which  distinguishes  the  born  masters  of  mankind.  Henry 
V.  was  necessarily  peremptory,  designing,  unwavering,  energetic, 
and  self-willed;  Shakespeare  was  flexible,  changeful,  meditative, 

176 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

sceptical,  and  self-distrustful.  This  was  clearly  the  temperament 
of  the  author  of  the  sonnets ;  it  was  too,  we  believe,  not  less  clearly 
the  character  of  the  wonderful  observer  and  delineator  of  all  the 
phases  of  both  tragic  and  comic  passion,  and  it  was,  perhaps,  in  no 
small  degree,  through  the  very  variety  of  his  emotional  and  im- 
aginative sensibility,  and  the  very  absence  of  that  completeness 
and  steadfastness  of  nature  which  his  injudicious  admirers  now 
claim  for  him,  that  he  was  enabled  to  become  the  great  dramatic 
poet  of  the  world." 

239  et  seq.  Johnson  finds  something  very  striking  and  solemn 
in  this  soliloquy  of  King  Henry,  beginning  as  soon  as  he  is  left 
alone.  "  Something  like  this,"  says  Johnson,  "  every  breast  has 
felt.  Reflection  and  seriousness  rush  upon  the  mind  upon  the 
separation  of  gay  company,  and  especially  after  forced  and  un- 
willing merriment." 

Scene  II. 

[The  French  camp.]  The  one  formidable  rival  of  the  King  is 
no  single  figure,  but  the  "  bad  neighbour  "  at  whom  he  dashes  his 
little  force,  the  assembled  power  of  France.  And  the  French  are 
drawn  collectively,  in  slightly  modulated  shades  of  the  same  con- 
ventional hue.  The  brush  which  had  painted  the  rival  of  Henry's 
youth  now  dashes  off  with  far  less  care  and  delicacy  the  foes  of 
his  manhood.  The  vapouring  chivalry,  the  fantastic  self-conceit 
which  so  fatally  alloyed  Hotspur's  sturdy  Saxon  strength,  reap- 
pear with  more  of  blatant  flourish  in  men  of  finer  wit  but  weaker 
fibre. 

16.  yon  poor  and  starved  hand: — Holinshed  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  march  from  Harfleur  to  Agincourt :  "  The  Eng- 
lishmen were  brought  into  some  distresse  in  this  journie,  by  reason 
of  their  vittels  in  maner  spent,  and  no  hope  to  get  more ;  for  the 
enemies  had  destroied  all  the  corne  before  they  came.  Rest  could 
they  none  take,  for  their  enemies  with  alarmes  did  ever  so  infest 
them :  dailie  it  rained,  nightlie  it  freezed :  of  fuell  there  was  great 
scarsitie,  of  fluxes  plentie :  monie  inough,  but  wares  for  their 
releefe  to  bestowe  it  on  had  they  none." 

60,61.  /  stay  hut  for  my  guidon,  etc.: — Thus  in  Holinshed: 
"  They  thought  themselves  so  sure  of  victorie,  that  diverse  of  the 
noblemen  made  such  hast  toward  the  battell,  that  they  left  manie 
of  their  servants  and  men  of  zvarre  behind  them,  and  some  of 
them  would  not  once  stale  for  their  standards;  as  amongst  other 

IT/ 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  Duke  of  Brabant,  when  his  standard  was  not  come,  caused  a 
banner  to  be  taken  from  a  trumpet,  and  fastened  to  a  speare,  the 
which  he  commanded  to  be  borne  before  him,  instead  of  his 
standard." 

Scene  III. 

21.  To  do  our  country  loss: — Here  again  the  Poet  found  some- 
thing in  the  chronicler  to  work  upon :  "  It  is  said  that  as  he 
heard  one  of  the  host  utter  his  wish  to  another  thus,  '  I  would  to 
God  there  were  with  us  now  so  manie  good  soldiers  as  are  at 
this  houre  within  England !  '  the  King  answered,  I  would  not 
wish  a  man  more  here  than  I  have :  we  are  indeed  in  comparison 
of  the  enemies  but  a  few,  but,  if  God  of  his  clemencie  doo  favour 
us  and  our  cause,  as  I  trust  he  will,  we  shall  speed  well  inough. 
And  if  so  be  that  for  our  oflfenses  sakes  we  shall  be  delivered  into 
the  hands  of  our  enemies,  the  lesse  number  we  be,  the  lesse  dam- 
age shall  the  realme  of  England  susteine." 

63.  shall  gentle  his  condition  : — King  Henry  V.  inhibited  any 
person,  but  such  as  had  a  right  by  inheritance  or  grant,  from 
bearing  coats  of  arms,  except  those  who  fought  with  him  at  the 
battle  of  Agincourt. 

90  et  seq.  Of  this  second  proposal  for  ransom  Holinshed 
speaks  thus :  "  Here  we  may  not  forget  how  the  French  in  their 
jolitie  sent  an  herald  to  King  Henrie,  to  inquire  what  ransom  he 
would  ofter.  Whereunto  he  answered,  that  within  two  or  three 
houres  he  hoped  it  would  so  happen  that  the  Frenchmen  should 
be  glad  to  common  rather  with  the  Englishmen  for  their  ransoms, 
than  the  English  to  take  thought  for  their  deliverance,  promising 
for  his  owne  part,  that  his  dead  carcasse  should  rather  be  a  prize 
to  the  Frenchmen,  than  that  his  living  bodie  should  paie  anie 
ransome." 

129.  [York.']  This  Edward  Duke  of  York  has  already  ap- 
peared in  Richard  11.  as  Duke  of  Aumerle.  He  was  the  son  of 
Edmund  of  Langley,  the  Duke  of  York  of  the  same  play,  who 
was  the  fourth  son  of  King  Edward  HI. 

Scene  IV. 

I  et  seq.  It  is  consistent  enough  with  the  national  and  popular 
design  of  the  play  that  not  a  little  of  it  should  seem  to  be  ad- 
dressed  to   the    common,    uneducated   public,    as    in   this    Scene, 

178 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

wherein  the  miserable  blusterer  Pistol  makes  prisoner  a  French 
nobleman  whom  he  has  succeeded  in  overawing. 

Scene  V. 

3.  Mort  de  ma  vie! — Coleridge  says:  "Ludicrous  as  these  in- 
troductory scraps  of  French  appear,  so  instantly  followed  by  good 
nervous  mother-English,  yet  they  are  judicious,  and  produce  the 
impression  which  Shakespeare  intended — a  sudden  feeling  struck 
at  once  on  the  ears,  as  well  as  the  eyes,  of  the  audience,  that  '  here 
come  the  French,  the  baffled  French  braggards  !  '  And  this  will 
appear  still  more  judicious,  when  we  reflect  on  the  scanty  ap- 
paratus of  distmguishing  dresses  in  Shakespeare's  trying-room." 

Scene  VI. 

35.  nezv  ahrum  : — "  The  multiplicity  of  battles  in  Henry  V.," 
says  Campbell,  "  is  a  drawback  on  its  value  as  an  acting  play ;  for 
battles  are  awkward  things  upon  the  stage.  We  forget  this  objec- 
tion, however,  in  the  reading  of  the  play." 

Scene  VII. 

6-10.  iiie  cozvardly  rascals  .  .  .  throat: — This  matter  is 
thus  related  by  Holinshed :  "  While  the  battell  thus  continued, 
certeine  Frenchmen  on  horsseback,  to  the  number  of  six  hundred, 
which  were  the  first  that  fled,  hearing  that  the  English  tents  and 
pavillions  were  without  anie  sufficient  gard,  entred  upon  the 
King's  campe,  and  there  spoiled  the  hails,  robbed  the  tents,  brake 
up  chests,  and  carried  awaie  caskets,  and  slue  such  servants  as 
they  found  to  make  anie  resistance.  But  when  the  outcrie  of  the 
lackies  and  boies,  which  ran  awaie  for  feare  of  the  Frenchmen, 
came  to  the  King's  eares,  he,  doubting  least  his  enemies  should 
gather  togither  againe,  and  begin  a  new  field,  and  mistrusting 
further  that  the  prisoners  would  be  an  aid  to  his  enemies,  or  the 
verie  enemies  to  their  takers  in  deed,  if  they  were  suffered  to  live, 
contrarie  to  his  accustomed  gentleness,  commanded  by  sound  of 
trumpet,  that  everie  man,  upon  paine  of  death,  should  inconti- 
nentlie  slaie  his  prisoner."  It  appears  afterwards,  however,  that 
the  King,  finding  the  danger  to  be  less  than  he  at  first  thought, 
stopped  the  slaughter,  and  was  able  to  save  a  great  number.     It 

179 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

is  observable  that  the  King  gives  as  his  reason  for  the  order,  that 
he  expected  another  battle,  and  had  not  men  enough  to  guard  one 
army  and  fight  another.  Gower  here  assigns  a  different  reason. 
Holinshed  gives  both  reasons,  and  the  Poet  chose  to  put  on*"-  in 
the  King's  mouth,  the  other  in  Gower's. 

54.  Falstaff : — Johnson  observes  that  this  is  the  last  time  Fal- 
staff  can  make  sport.  The  Poet  was  loath  to  part  with  him,  and 
has  continued  his  memory  as  long  as  he>  could. 

93.  Agincourt : — So  the  chronicler:  "In  the  morning  Montjoie 
and  foure  other  heralds  came  to  the  King,  to  know  the  number  of 
prisoners,  and  to  desire  buriall  for  the  dead.  Before  he  made 
them  answer,  he  demanded  whie  they  made  that  request,  consid- 
ering that  he  knew  not  whether  the  victorie  was  his  or  theirs. 
When  Montjoie  by  true  and  just  confession  had  cleered  that 
doubt,  he  desired  to  understand  the  name  of  the  castell  neere 
adjoining:  when  they  had  told  him  that  it  was  called  Agincourt, 
he  said,  Then  shall  this  conflict  be  called  the  battell  of  Agin- 
court." 

161.  dozvn  together: — Henry  was  felled  to  the  ground  by  the 
Duke  of  Alengon,  but  recovered  and  slew  two  of  the  duke's  at- 
tendants. Alengon  was  afterwards  killed  by  the  King's  guard, 
contrary  to  Henry's  intention,  who  wished  to  save  him. 

Scene  VIII. 

8.  [Strikes  him.]  Fluellen  gets  a  hearty  box  on  the  ear  from 
Williams,  and  prepares  to  return  it  with  interest,  giving  loose  to 
his  tongue  in  preparation.  But  even  this  imbroglio  is  fairly  recon- 
ciled by  a  few  words  of  explanation,  and  with  no  loss  of  dignity 
in  any  part.  Williams  sets  his  apparent  insult  to  the  King  in  its 
natural  light,  and  has  from  him  a  glove  full  of  crowns,  which  he 
well  deserves,  and  an  honourable  distinction  that  he  deserves  still 
better ;  and  Fluellen  thinks  no  more  of  the  blow,  and  has  even 
twelvepence  to  spare  for  the  giver  of  it.  who,  however,  knows 
himself  much  too  well  to  take  it,  and  pitches  it  back.  Thus  we 
are  gradually  carried  forward  and  exercised  in  appreciating  and 
apprehending  the  shades  and  limits  of  forbearance  and  pusil- 
lanimity, of  the  magnanimous  and  the  overbearing,  and  enabled, 
if  we  will  but  keep  clear  of  false  lights  and  vain  prepossessions, 
to  receive  the  full  effect  of  the  scene  that  closes  and  completes 
the  martial  play. 

125.  Do  we  all  holy  rites: — "The  King,"  according  to  Holin- 

180 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

shed,  "  when  he  saw  no  appearance  of  enemies,  caused  the  retreit 
to  be  blowen ;  and,  gathering  his  army  togither,  gave  thanks  to 
Almightie  God  for  so  happie  a  victorie,  causing  his  prelats  and 
chapleins  to  sing  this  psalme, — In  exitu  Israel  de  Egypto ;  and 
commanded  every  man  to  kneele  downe  on  the  ground  at  this 
verse, —  Non  nobis,  Domine,  non  nobis,  sed  nomini  tiio  da  glo- 
riam.  Which  doone,  he  caused  Te  Deum  with  certeine  anthems 
to  be  soong,  givmg  laud  and  praise  to  God,  without  boasting  of 
his  owne  force  or  anie  humane  power." 

ACT  FIFTH. 
Scene  I. 

21.  the  smell  of  leek  : — "Ancient  Pistol's  mock  at  the  quaint  but 
honourable  badge  of  the  odd-fashioned  but  valiant  Welshman, 
is  invented."  says  Lloyd,  "  not  without  reference  to  the  Dauphin's 
mock  with  his  tun  of  tennis-balls,  on  the  strength  of  the  seeming 
frivolity  of  the  wilder  time  of  Prince  Henry.  Of  such  an  offence 
the  punishment  is  much  the  same  in  either  case,  and  the  mouthing 
braggart  is  roughly  repaid  with  hard  knocks  first,  and  then  with 
humiliation  in  its  bitterest  form  of  forced  acceptation  of  a  kind- 
ness. Fluellen,  who  took  back  his  shilling  from  Williams  and 
forgave  him  the  buffet,  gives  a  sound  thrashing  to  the  contempt- 
ible scoundrel  who  disgraces  the  profession  of  soldier,  forces  the 
leek  he  jeered  at  down  his  throat,  and  makes  him  accept  of  a 
groat  to  heal  his  pate.  Pistol  deserves  all  that  he  gets  and  more, 
and  it  is  the  treatment  such  a  character  as  he  provokes,  whether 
deserving  it  or  not ;  it  is  a  faint  consideration  in  the  Ancient's 
favour,  that  he  quarrels  so  pertinaciously  with  Fluellen  from  re- 
sentment at  his  not  saving  his  comrade  Bardolph,  good-for-little 
wretch  as  he  might  be.  But  thus  ends  the  memory  of  Falstaff 
and  his  associates." 

93.  Johnson  here  remarks  upon  the  comic  scenes  of  Henry  IV. 
and  Henry  V.  with  a  feeling  which  doubtless  most  readers  will 
share.  Those  scenes,  he  says,  "  are  now  at  an  end.  and  all  the 
comic  personages  are  now  dismissed.  Falstaff  and  Mrs.  Quickly 
are  dead;  Nym  and  Bardolph  are  hanged;  Gadshill  was  lost  im- 
mediately after  the  robbery ;  Poins  and  Peto  have  vanished  since, 
one  knows  not  how ;  and  Pistol  is  now  beaten  into  obscurity.  I 
believe  every  reader  regrets  their  departure." 

181 


Notes  THE  LIFE  OF 

Scene  II. 

9-1 1.  Right  joyous,  etc.: — In  the  fifth  Act  the  French  them- 
selves seem  to  share  in  the  exultation  of  England  over  their  own 
surrender.  In  painting  Henry's  own  attitude  towards  the  enemy, 
however.  Shakespeare's  touch  is  not  quite  so  firm  as  when  he 
limned  Prince  Hal.  The  speeches  before  Harfleur  to  Montjoy, 
and  after  the  battle,  are  hardly  in  keeping  with  the  modesty  of 
true  valour  which  makes  him  forbid  the  display  of  his  bruised 
helmet  and  bent  sword  in  the  London  streets. 

98  et  seq.  Fair  Katharine,  etc. : — In  the  scenes  with  Katharine, 
and  in  the  tone  of  Henry  towards  the  French  king  and  princes, 
the  old  play  exhibits  its  best  in  spirit  and  originality,  and  in 
what  is  worthiest  as  leading  the  way  to  something  that  so  far  sur- 
passed it.  Henry,  however,  displays  more  simplicity  and  warm- 
heartedness as  a  wooer,  and  Katharine  more  sensibility  as  well  as 
sense  than  were  possible  in  Shakespeare's  Henry  V.  without 
marring  the  effect  of  all.  Still  it  is  very  interesting  to  observe 
by  what  slight  strokes  and  changes  the  force  of  expression  is  now 
modified  and  now  reversed.  Compare  the  following  passages 
from  the  old  play  with  the  final  Scene  of  this : — 

Henry  5  {alone.']  Ah  Harry,  thrice  unhappy  Harry,  hast 
thou  now  conquered  the  French  king,  and  begins  a  fresh 
supply  with  his  daughter,  but  with  what  face  canst  thou 
seek  to  gain  her  love,  which  hast  sought  to  win  her 
father's  crown?  Her  father's  crown  said  I  ?  no  it  is  mine 
own  :  Ay,  but  I  love  her  and  must  crave  her.  Nay,  I  love 
her  and  will  have  her. 

Enter  Lady  Katharine  and  her  ladies. 

But  here  she  comes :  how  now,  fair  Katharine  of  France, 
what  news? 

Kath.  An  it  please  your  majesty,  my  father  sent  me  to  know 
if  you  will  debate  (abate)  any  of  these  unreasonable  de- 
mands which  3'ou  require. 

Hen.  5.  Now  trust  me  Kate,  I  commend  thy  father's  wit 
greatly  in  this ;  for  none  in  the  world  could  sooner  have 
made  me  debate  it,  if  it  were  possible.  But  tell  me,  sweet 
Kate,  canst  thou  tell  how  to  love? 

Kath.  I  cannot  hate,  my  good  Lord;  therefore  far  unfit  were 
it  for  me  to  love. 

182 


KING  HENRY  V.  Notes 

Hen.  5.  But  Kate,  tell  me  in  plain  terms,  canst  thou  love  the 
king  of  England?  I  cannot  do  as  these  countries  do,  that 
spend  half  their  time  in  wooing :  Tush,  wench,  I  am 
none  such,  but  wilt  thou  go  over  to  England? 

Katli.  I  would  to  God  that  I  had  your  Majesty  as  fast  in  love 
as  you  have  my  father  in  wars ;  I  would  not  vouchsafe 
so  much  as  one  look,  until  you  had  related  (abated)  all 
these  unreasonable  demands. 

Hen.  Tush,  Kate,  I  know  thou  wouldst  not  use  me  so  hardly : 
but  tell  me  canst  thou  love  the  king  of  England? 

Kath.  How  should  I  love  him  that  hath  dealt  so  hardly  with 
my  father  ? 

Hen.  But  I  '11  deal  as  easily  with  thee  as  thy  heart  can  im- 
agine or  tongue  require:  how  sayst  thou;  what  will  it  be? 

Kath.  If  I  were  of  my  own  direction  I  could  give  you  answer: 
but  seeing  I  stand  at  my  father's  direction,  I  must  first 
know  his  will. 

Hen.  But  shall  I  have  thy  good  will  in  the  mean  season? 

Kath.  Whereas  I  can  put  your  Grace  in  no  assurance,  I  would 
be  loth  to  put  your  Grace  in  any  despair. 

Hen.  Now  before  God  it  is  a  sweet  wench. 

Kath.  [aside.]  I  may  think  myself  the  happiest  in  the  world 
that  is  beloved  of  the  mighty  king  of  England. 

Hen.  Well  Kate,  are  you  at  host  with  me?  Sweet  Kate,  tell 
your  father  from  me  that  none  in  the  world  could  sooner 
have  persuaded  me  to  it  than  thou,  and  so  tell  thy  father 
from  me. 

Kath.  God  keep  your  Majesty  in  good  health.  [Exit. 

Hen.  [solus.]  Farewell,  sweet  Kate,  in  faith  it  is  a  sweet 
wench,  but  if  I  knew  that  I  could  not  have  her  father's 
good  will.  I  would  so  rouse  the  towers  over  his  ears  that 
I  would  make  him  glad  to  bring  her  to  me  upon  his  hands 
and  knees.  [Exit. 

» 
393.   [Exeunt.]     The  events  mentioned  in  Scene  ii.  of  this  Act 

appear  to  follow  very  closely  upon  Henry's  return  to  England. 

This  is  due  to  the  compression  of  the  narrative  to  suit  it  for  the 

stage.     In   1417  the  King  had  again  landed  in   France,   overrun 

Normandy,  and  captured  Rouen  after  a  terrible  siege.     He  was 

aided  by  the  Burgundians,  after  their  duke's  murder  by  agents  of 

the    Dauphin ;    this    ended    the    struggle,    and    practically    placed 

France  at  the  feet  of  the  English  sovereign. 

183 


THE  LIFE  OF 


Questions  on  Henry  V. 


1.  How  was  the  Prologue  delivered  in  Shakespeare's  time? 

2.  Explain  the  allusions  to  the  form  of  the  Elizabethan  play- 
house in  this  Prologue. 

3.  What  functions  does  the  Chorus  perform  in  this  play?  Is  it 
in  any  way  similar  to  the  Chorus  of  the  Greek  drama? 

ACT  FIRST. 

4.  What  was  the  nature  of  the  bill  that  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury and  the  Bishop  of  Ely  discuss  in  the  first  Scene?  What 
would  be  its  effect  if  passed?  How  do  craft  and  chance  serve  to 
turn  aside  attention  from  the  bill? 

5.  How  is  the  changed  life  of  the  King  referred  to?  Does  the 
picture  of  the  King  as  presented  by  the  play  confirm  Canterbury's 
opinions  of  his  gifts  in  divinity,  politics,  war,  and  eloquence? 

6.  W^hat  was  the  Salic  law?  How  did  it  bar  Henry  from  the 
throne  of  France?  By  what  arguments  did  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  prove  it  inoperative  in  his  case? 

7.  Do  any  of  the  higher  motives  lead  Henry  to  contest  his 
right  to  the  French  throne?  How  sincere  are  Henry's  conscien- 
tious or  religious  scruples  against  a  misapprehension  of  his  dy- 
nastic rights? 

8.  Has  the  insulting  message  and  present  of  the  French  Dauphin 
any  effect  in  furnishing  additional  motive  for  war  to  what  might 
otherwise  seem  insufficient?  What  ground  does  Henry  take  in 
his  reply?  Comment  on  Henrj^'s  assumption  that  he  is  to  be  the 
agent  of  God's  vengeance  on  the  sender  of  tennis-balls. 

ACT  SECOND. 

9.  What  is  the  picture  presented  by  the  Prologue?  What  is  the 
conspiracy?    What  humorous  allusion  to  the  English  Channel? 

10.  What  new  character  is  added  to  the  group  of  Eastcheap? 

184 


KING  HENRY  V.  Questions 

11.  What  phrase  docs  Nym  use  for  all  occasions?  Indicate  the 
cause  of  his  quarrel  with  Pistol?  What  kind  of  courage  does  each 
possess? 

12.  How  does  Hostess  Quickly  estimate  the  courage  of  Nym? 

13.  What  impression  does  one  get  of  the  end  of  Doll  Tearsheet? 
In  addition  to  the  reference  to  her,  what  facts  point  to  the  increas- 
ing degradation  of  the  group  ? 

14.  What  does  Mrs.  Quickly  say  about  the  cause  of  Falstaff's 
illness?    How  does  this  incite  to  a  higher  regard  for  the  knight? 

15.  How  do  the  companions  of  Falstaff  judge  the  King  for  his 
treatment  of  the  knight? 

16.  How  in  Sc.  ii.  are  the  conspirators  detected?  Is  this  event 
presented  in  a  manner  adequate  to  its  dramatic  possibilities? 

17.  How  are  mercy  and  justice  exhibited  in  contrast? 

18.  What  opportunities  for  disloyalty  had  been  offered  to  the 
three  conspirators? 

19.  What  is  your  impression  of  the  sermon  Henry  reads  to 
them? 

20.  On  what  ground  does  he  base  his  reasons  for  their  condem- 
nation ? 

21.  How  is  Bardolph  affected  by  the  death  of  Falstaff? 

22.  Comment  on  the  pathos  of  Hostess  Quickly's  account  of 
Falstaff's  end. 

23.  What  Psalm  has  been  suggested  as  the  subject  of  Falstaff's 
words  when,  as  Mrs.  Quickly  said,  a'  babbled  of  green  fields? 

24.  What  is  Falstaff's  last  witticism  on  Bardolph?  What  is 
Bardolph's  reply?  Have  you  discovered  any  higher  trait  in  Bar- 
dolph than  his  affection  for  his  master? 

25.  Had  Shakespeare  promised  that  Sir  John  should  appear  in 
this  play?    What  probably  induced  him  to  leave  the  knight  out? 

26.  Is  the  effect  of  pathos  more  moving  than  if  Falstaff's  death 
had  been  enacted  before  the  eyes  of  the  spectator? 

27.  What  is  contributed  to  the  action  by  Sc.  iv.?  WHiat  is 
the  attitude  of  the  French  towards  the  invading  army?  What 
serves  to  increase  the  impression  of  their  fatuousness? 

ACT   THIRD. 

28.  What  is  foretold  by  the  Prologue?  How  is  the  undramatic 
nature  of  the  play  apologized  for? 

29.  How  does  Shakespeare  describe  the  frenzy  of  war  in  Sc.  i.? 

185 


Questions  THE  LIFE  OF 

30.  What  faint  echo  does  one  get  of  Falstaff  in  the  speech  of 
the  Boy,  Sc.  ii.,  lines  12,  13? 

31.  What  view  of  Nym,  Bardolph,  and  Pistol  does  the  Boy  fur- 
nish? 

32.  What  second  set  of  humorous  characters  are  brought  upon 
the  scene?  What  is  the  idiosyncrasy  of  Fluellen?  Is  there  shown 
in  the  Welshman,  the  Scotsman,  and  the  Irishman  a  differentiation 
of  national  traits? 

33.  What  new  picture  of  the  horrors  of  war  is  given  in  Henry's 
speech  (Sc.  iii.)  before  the  gates  of  Harfleur? 

34.  Where  is  the  pusillanimity  of  the  Dauphin  first  shown? 

35.  Indicate  the  implication  of  the  lesson  in  English  pursued  by 
Katharine  in  Sc.  iv.  Has  there  been  any  preparation  for  this 
Scene?  Critics  have  sometimes  regarded  this  as  silly:  what  im- 
pression does  the  Scene  make  upon  you? 

36.  How  is  the  Frenchman's  misapprehension  of  England  shown 
in  Sc.  v.?    Who  of  the  French  is  not  deceived  as  to  the  English? 

37.  Why  does  Shakespeare  introduce  a  long  list  of  French 
nobles  who  are  to  be  sent  into  action?  Where  is  the  correlative 
of  this  Scene? 

38.  By  what  means  did  Pistol  succeed  in  deceiving  Fluellen  as 
to  his  valour?    What  does  this  reveal  of  Fluellen? 

39.  Why  would  Fluellen  not  speak  in  behalf  of  Bardolph? 

40.  How  is  Henry  made  to  condemn  another  of  his  old  asso- 
ciates?   For  what  was  Bardolph  hanged? 

41.  What  is  the  effect  of  the  message  (Sc.  vi.)  Montjoy  brings 
to  Henry  immediately  upon  Fluellen's  account  of  the  results  of  the 
action  at  the  bridge? 

42.  Speak  of  some  qualities  of  the  French  displayed  in  Sc.  vii. 
What  is  the  attitude  of  the  Constable  of  France  towards  the  Dau- 
phin? What  is  the  characteristic  temper  of  the  Constable  of 
France? 

ACT  FOURTH. 

43.  Comment  on  the  philosophic  tendencies  of  Henry's  mind 
as  seen  at  the  beginning  of  Sc.  i.  Judging  from  this  and  earlier 
Scenes,  do  you  think  he  sees  clearly  into  facts? 

44.  What  is  argued  of  Henry's  popularity  that  Pistol  felt  no 
disposition  to  disparage  him  behind  his  back?  How  is  Pistol's 
degradation  foreshadowed  ? 

45.  What  is  Fluellen's  hobby?  Does  the  King  rightly  apprehend 
(line  85)  the  cause  of  Fluellen's  solicitude? 

186 


KING  HENRY  V.  Questions 

46.  State  the  propositions  concerning  the  loyalty  of  the  subject 
and  the  responsibility  of  the  King  that  Bates  and  Williams  lay 
before  Henry. 

47.  Does  Henry  in  his  long  reply  miss  the  main  point  of  their 
question  and  argue  only  its  corollary?  Do  the  soldiers  perceive 
his  fallacy? 

48.  What  is  the  real  motive  for  the  quarrel  between  Henry  and 
Williams? 

49.  Have  not  the  soldiers  a  higher  conception  of  the  kingly 
responsibility,  though  only  partially  apprehended,  than  Henry 
shows  in  the  poetical  soliloquy  that  follows  the  withdrawal  of  the 
soldiers?  Does  Henry  revert  to  some  of  his  pre-kingly  prejudices 
in  these  words?    How  is  his  temper  similar  to  his  father's? 

50.  What  new  reflection  moves  him  to  the  final  invocation? 

51.  Note  the  effect  of  Sc.  ii.  in  showing  two  points  of  view 
among  the  French  forces.     Define  them. 

52.  What  is  the  tenour  of  Henry's  harangue  in  Sc.  iii.?  Is  any 
colour  lent  to  it  by  the  reflections  in  Sc.  i.  ? 

53.  How  does  the  speech  of  Henry  towards  the  end  of  Sc.  iii. 
complete  the  impression  of  the  inequalities  of  the  forces  in  the 
impending  conflict?  On  the  other  hand,  how  is  the  feeling  of 
English  success  assured? 

54.  Why  is  there  no  battle-scene  in  a  play  that  chiefly  concerns 
itself  with  the  glorification  of  battle?  What  is  the  satirical  pur- 
pose (Sc.  iv.)  of  the  scene  between  Pistol  and  the  French  soldier? 
What  additional  stroke  is  provided  by  the  Boy  in  the  closing 
speech  of  the  Scene? 

55.  Does  Sc.  v.  arouse  a  feeling  of  sympathy  for  the  French  ? 
How  does  Shakespeare  depict  them  in  disaster? 

56.  What  was  the  probable  fate  of  the  Boy?  How  is  the  last 
menrton  made  of  Falstaff? 

57.  By  what  methods  does  the  mind  of  Fluellen  work? 

58.  How  is  the  quarrel  of  Henry  and  Williams  disposed  of? 

59.  In  the  numbering  of  flic  slaughter d  French  (Sc.  viii.)  how 
many  of  those  designated  by  the  French  king  for  battle  were 
found  among  the  killed? 

60.  What  impression  do  you  derive  of  Henry's  religiosity  in  his 
thanks  after  the  battle?*  Does  the  dramatist  so  exhibit  the  facts 
of  the  story  as  to  lead  the  spectator  to  take  the  same  point  of 
view  that  Henry  does?  If  not,  what  is  the  irony  intended  by  this 
character? 

t87 


Questions 

ACT  FIFTH. 

6i.  How  do  Pistol  and  Fluellen  reach  the  consummation  of 
their  respective  courses  in  Sc.  i.? 

62.  How  is  France  pictured  after  the  ravages  of  war?  What  is 
the  principal  item  in  the  terms  of  peace  proposed  by  Henry? 

63.  Has  Henry  before  (Sc.  ii.)  been  presented  in  any  attitude 
of  relationship  to  women?  How  does  he  bear  himself  as  a  lover? 
Is  Katharine  carried  by  storm?  Does  the  dramatist  wish  to  point 
the  fact  that  brutal  sincerity  is  admired  especially  by  the  most 
delicate  of  women? 


64.  In  the  strict  sense,  is  Henry  V.  a  play?  How  would  you 
describe  it? 

65.  Had  Shakespeare  any  purpose  such  as  exhibiting  the  men- 
tal limitations  of  that  class  to  whom  military  achievement  and 
fame  are  necessary  and  all-sufficient? 

66.  How  may  King  Henry  be  viewed  as  a  foil  to  Hamlet? 
Which  was  nearer  the  heart  of  the  Poet? 

67.  To  what  degree  does  Henry  possess  the  following  qualities : 
courage,  pity,  piety,  sentiment,  delicacy,  melancholy? 

68.  In  what  respects  does  he  differ  from  the  Prince  Hal  of 
Henry  /F.  In  his  habits  of  life,  freedom  of  intercourse,  does  he 
suggest  the  earlier  life? 

69.  Does  Shakespeare  produce  an  effect  of  pity  and  terror  in 
the  fates  he  assigns  to  the  Eastcheap  group? 

70.  Compare  Fluellen  as  a  humorous  creation  with  ^len dower 
of  Henry  IV. 

yi.  Mention  some  passages  especially  notable  for  poetic  fervour; 
some  that  exhibit  extraordinary  powers  of  observation. 


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